Area Rug Cleaning Specialists-Victoria BC

Hand Repair on a Persian Carpet

2011-06-07T12:54:00.000-07:00

It is heartbreaking when you see your precious area rug slowly get eaten away by the vacuum cleaner and every day use. The first thing to go is usually the fringes and then the corners start to unravel. When you love your rug you want to keep using it for many more years.

When we, Luv-A-Rug, see rugs that can benefit from repairs we let you know what options are available for your rug. For hand knotted rugs we like to do an authentic hand repair on them. Hand repairs look original, when done right, and are a great investment to preserve your beloved rugs.

On May 18th a lady from Nanaimo BC brought in her 2.4x3.3 foot Persian area carpet for cleaning and repair. All four corners of her little Persian were fraying to a point where soon she would start to lose some of the pattern.

After we cleaned her rug with wool safe shampoo and clean water our Armenian hand repair expert re-weaved the corners seamlessly. If you didn't know that the corners were fraying you would have hard time seeing the repairs. The only real way to tell is the fringes on the corners are brighter than the rest.

When I take before and after pictures it is hard to get the same lighting even with photo tweaking that is why the rug looks yellower in the after pictures.

Here is too many happy repaired rugs, RugloverMary

From white to gold back to white- "Tea Stained" fringes

2011-06-07T12:44:00.000-07:00

When you hear the word "Antique" you know that the item in question is old, but what about just making items look old?

It is done all the time with furniture finishes and clothing and it is also done with area rugs too. It is very easy to make a rug look old and yellowed, but it can be easy to remove with improper cleaning. Back in Sept of 2008 I wrote about a lady who's rug changed from a golden colour to a off white after she had used a carpet shampooer on it. This was because her rug had been "tea washed" to make it look antiqued and when she added warm water and shampoo it removed the tea wash.

Tea wash is done by using any of the following actual tea, herbs, synthetic or chemical wash and is applied to the rug after it has been made. A tea wash can also be applied to the fringes as well.This is done because a white fringe doesn't look good on a golden coloured rug.

The fringes are tea stained after the rug is made. Here is a little video about tea stained fringes.

It doesn't make a difference whether the rug is wool or synthetic, machine woven or hand knotted. If the manufacturer wants a golden fringe they will dye them after a rug is made. Here is another blog post about tea stained fringes on a wool Dhurrie/flatweave rug.

Now not all golden fringes are tea stained. Some are actual dyed cotton that remains golden colour the life of the rug, minus any spills and dirt. It is always best to push back the last row of the rug fibers to see if the fringes are a different colour. Rugs that do have tea stained fringes are not a bad rug to buy, just as long as you are aware that the fringes may faded back to white.

Here is to many beloved tea stained rugs, RugloverMary.

Red Hot Red Wine

2011-05-28T15:36:00.000-07:00

My days can seem a bit monotone some days, I come to work, check e-mails, call clients to let them know their rugs are ready for pick up, write a blog or do other work online. It is the variety of phone calls, area rugs and clients that make each day just that much more interesting.

Take today, Sat May 28, at 8am on the dot the phone rings, I think wow we just opened they must have been waiting for the time to be 8am to call.

I was wrong, he needed to know when he could bring in his rug for cleaning today and it was a fluke on the timing.

The guy on the phone said that he woke up this morning to a red wine spill and dog urine on his rug. Not the best things to wake up to, especially when you did not cause either of them to happen.

The arrows show where the red wine mostly is and the darker areas are where the rug is wet.

He said that he took his rug out on the patio and tented it over two chairs and poured a very diluted mix of liquid laundry soap and warm water through the rug to get the wine out.

Not the best recommended red wine treatment. The water is fine, but it should have been cold not warm in case the dye was not stable and the laundry soap if not rinsed completely out would leave a residue and attract dirt.

Blotting the spot with a dry white cotton towel, pouring table salt or dry oats on the spill works better. If you own a wet vac and the spill is wet this works best. When a wet spill or accident occurs you need to get it off the rug. When you scrub or add more moisture to the spill you are pushing the original spill deeper into the fibers making it a more permanent stain.

He just brought the rug in to our office for cleaning and it is an 8x10 wool Chobi rug. It is a beautiful rug that his boss bought in Istanbul and that he just recently inherited from said boss. The wine stain is pretty big and is all the way through the rug. The people who spilled the wine had tried to clean it up themselves and ended up spreading it more. The couple were getting amorous and the wine glass got knocked over. Oops kind of a major mood killer.

I am confident that Luv-A-Rug can remove most of the wine stain. There may still be some pile distortion from the scrubbing done, but that will look like a shadow on the rug.

I couldn't help but smile as the two guys were talking about how the wine spill happened. What a horrible mood breaker- spilling wine on your buddies rug. Wine spills happen no matter how careful you are or how little wine is in the glass.

The urine came from the rug owners girlfriends little Chihuahua. I guess he felt that since the rug already had a spill on it he would just add to it. The urine was recent and it got soaked up quickly and is the least of the rug owners worries. having the rug look new again is his main concern. He did a good thing in keeping the area damp, this helps the wine not completely set into the fibers and bringing in the rug right away for cleaning.

When you have a wet spill happen on your rug, whether it be wine, urine or other liquids, the best thing to do is not panic and grab the nearest spot remover, but to use a white towel and soak up what you can and then take another white towel get it damp and keep the spill moist until you can get it professionally taken care of.

On Vancouver Island and Victoria, BC you can call Luv-A-Rug at 250-590-6210/ 1-800-886-2802 and we can arrange pick up of your rug or you can bring it to us on 4144 Wilkinson Rd.

Here is to many sober rugs, RugloverMary

ALERT!!! MOTHS ARE ATTACKING VICTORIA'S WOOL RUGS

2011-05-24T15:31:00.000-07:00

Just because you aren't using your rug doesn't mean that something isn't. When you roll up your rug and store it away without cleaning it, even for a short time, clothes moth can make it their home.

Clothes moth like the climate in Victoria, BC and have done a lot of damage to many wool rugs. Clothes moths are very small, about an half an inch long, and are a golden colour, but it is their larvae that eats the wool on your rugs and clothing. After the egg hatches into a very tiny worm like larvae they immediately start eating your wool rug and it doesn't take long for them to do a lot of damage.

On May 12, 2011 Luv-A-Rug received 3 phones in a row about moths that have eaten area rugs. The first call came from Duncan, BC about many rugs that had moth damage to them. The rugs were cleaned then rolled up and store in the same room that their pet Parrots slept in. The owner was wondering how the clean rugs got infested since the rugs were not used.

The small feathers and bird droppings would have attracted the moths and then they would have moved onto the rugs for a more undisturbed food source. That is why wrapping your rugs properly after cleaning is so important. Even though the rugs were cleaned if they aren't wrapped up, NEVER IN PLASTIC, they can collect the organic dust from humans and pets in the air and moths will move in on your wool rugs.

Out of sight is not the best when it comes to your wool rugs. It may seem like an hassle or and added expense to get your rugs cleaned, but what is cheaper; getting your rugs cleaned or having to deal with a moth infestation or worse having to replace the rug?

The second call came from a storage facility here in Victoria that had a client who stored a very large rug in one of their units for under a year. The rug was around 15x20 feet and stored standing on one end and when they took it out of the storage unit one end had a lot of moth damage. Chances are that a rug that size had moths present on the rug before storing and it was not cleaned or wrapped prior to storing. The owners of the rug decided to toss the rug and the owners of the storage place called up and wanted to know how much to clean and repair it.

The third call was from a lovely retired lady who lives in Cordova Bay here in Victoria. She had a flood in her home and her British Indian rug got wet, so the rug was rolled up and put away while the flood damage was fixed to the rest of the floor. When she went to put the rug back she discovered that moths had damaged one end of it.

She called to get us to take a look at it, she had done a Google search for moth damage, to see if it could be trimmed back and re edged. The boss is going to go take a look at it on Saturday when he does free pick up and delivery. I can tell you without looking at the rug that we can save her rug and make it usable again.

This rug is a 9x12.8 wool British India (Aubusson)and we are cutting both ends of the rug back to the same point of the pattern to make it symmetrical and serging the ends.

The rug got flooded and had a piece of furniture on it, so along with sever moth damage there is the rust stains as well.

There is also a twist to this story, the owners are moving into a small place and having to trim back the rug to a smaller size means that they can use the rug in their new dining room. It just goes to show that not all rug disasters end with the rug getting thrown out.

Now I bet you are thinking that we always say we can fix any rug no matter what shape it is in, but you would be incorrect. The staff at Luv-A-Rug know how the different types of area rugs are made and the cleaning concerns for each rug and stain.When you have us clean your rug we let you know if it is worth cleaning and what the cleaning results will be.

Before you throw away your old, really dirty, or damaged area rug bring it to us or get us to pick it up first. If you like your rug we will do our best to save it and make it lovable for you.

Here's to less rugs in the landfill, RugloverMary.

What is The Best Rugs for Your Home

2011-04-20T17:07:00.000-07:00

When buying an area rug:

You want the most for your money.
You need a rug to add colour, texture and function to your home.
You want a rug to last for years.

How you choice a rug that fits all your needs? I have written an article to help you choose the right rug for every room in your home.

I outlined the pros and cons of most types of rugs I see for cleaning. Having knowledge before going shopping for rugs saves you a lot of headaches and money. This applies to new and second hand rugs. Not all great deals are good when it comes to area rugs.

If you have any questions about the different types of rugs, call or drop by Luv-A_Rug in Victoria.

Here's to the perfect rug for you, RugloverMary-area rug guru

Do You Send Thank You Cards?

2011-04-13T14:30:00.000-07:00

An Appreciative Client

I don't know about you, but I am really bad about sending thank you cards and not just for the big things. In our technology driven lives it is easy to over look the small things. We someone gives us great service we forget to let the person know sometimes.

I find it kinda sad that getting great, let alone good, service is an exception and not the norm. When we do find a person or business that gives great service we don't usually thank them for it. Since they give good service they should just know that we appreciate and then we tell our friends and family about it and that is it.

At Luv-A-Rug we do make people happy with our cleaning results all the time and our clients thank us for our good work and service, but some clients go beyond just telling us. This was waiting for us this morning at our office:

The story behind this thank you card is:

This rug was bought at an estate sale and the couple didn't get to see all of the rug before purchasing it. The rug had a musty smell to it from being rolled up in a basement. Luckily though there wasn't any new damage on it, just missing fibers from years past.

The new owners spent a couple of days literally beating the rug trying to get all the dust and dirt out of the rug. The rug was 8x10 wool rug, so trying to beat the rug was a huge job, especially since the wife is expecting their third child. They called Luv-A-Rug to find out about cleaning cost and what they could do to make their rug clean and fresh.

We discussed all their options:

Since it was hard for me to know exactly what kind of rug they had over the phone, it was not easy to give an exact price for cleaning or rugbadgering. They brought it to our office on Wilkinson Rd. and I identified it as a machine made Belgium wool rug.

They had decided to get us to badger the rug and then they would use the dry carpet cleaning Host sponges to freshen it up. Partly because of the cost and partly because they wanted it in a few days due to the soon to arrive baby.

The wife came and picked up the rug and I had some good news for her. Shane, our rug cleaners, had given her rug an initial cleaning. He didn't see that it was for badgering only until after he had started cleaning it. She was very happy that her rug got an accidental cleaning.

Her rug really needed to be professionally cleaned anyway. With a good cleaning it is healthier, brighter and softer for her family. She thanked us for our accident and said she was going to recommend us to any one who needed area rug cleaning. It was very nice to receive the thank you card from the family, especially since her little ones helped decorate it.

A card is a small piece of paper, but it delivers a lot of happiness. We all need to celebrate the little things in life and let people know that we appreciate what they do because we only this small window of life to do everything we can. All it takes to brighten someone's day is a smile, a thank you, or a small card.

So thank you for all the small things you do, RugloverMary and thanks for reading my blog.

Evening Purse Became a Napkin

2011-04-08T16:52:00.000-07:00

Cat vomit is NOT an Accessory!

No matter how much we love our cats, they don't seem to have the same appreciation for our things as we do.

This was the case for a small evening purse. It was the day after graduation for one lucky lady and when it came time to clean out the purse she found that the cat had left her a present. An unwanted present, but the cat didn't know that.

Evening purse before and after cleaning

The father of the graduate took it to their dry cleaners to see if they could clean it. Unfortunately it was not an item that dry cleaners will clean anymore.The materials used to make purses cannot handle getting cleaned by immersion.

The dry cleaners recommend that he bring it to us, Luv-A-Rug to see if we could clean it. We can clean handbags and purses because we can them by hand. Since there wasn't a lot of cat vomit on the purse, you may be wondering why would they pay to get it cleaned. Wouldn't it be easy to clean the spots themselves?

Sure they could have cleaned the purse themselves, but the bigger question is what would the results have been? The material of the evening purse has a silky/satiny finish and if you took a wet towel or paper towel to it you would be left with less cat vomit, but lots of white bits. The slight texture of the purse would grab the lint from the towel and that is hard to remove. Plus if they rubbed in a circular motion that will cause the texture to distort and that is permanent as well.

Yes do-it-yourself is cheaper, but not if you cannot use the item afterward. As ladies know evening purses are not cheap and can last many years, so why chance having to replace your purse because of a spill or cat vomit?

The cleaning cost to remove the cat vomit was very low compared to having to buy a new one and after cleaning it looks new again ready for the next big night out.

When something gets spilled on your purse or handbag, don't throw it out bring it to Luv-A-Rug. We can clean the unclean-able items for you. 250-590-6210.

Here's to many more evenings out looking fabulous, RugloverMary-accessory lover

Heater floors and Area Rugs-Not a match made in Heaven

2011-04-05T17:25:00.000-07:00

It is wonderful to have heated floors. No more cold toes first thing in the morning, but what are they doing to your area rugs?

After a Google search I found no evidence of anyone writing about damage to rugs by heated floors, except one sentence by a home improvement company "Because the floor-heating system radiates heat, it is strongly recommended that you avoid laying a rug or installing any piece of furniture that might prevent proper air circulation. Trapped heat may cause damage to the rug, piece of furniture or even the floor covering. This does not apply to temporary bathroom rugs as long as they are removed after a bath or shower."

Here is a wool braided rug that came in for cleaning, the rug is folded in half to show the two sides. At first glance you would just think that the sun had faded the rug, but the owner of the rug thinks it was the heated floor that caused the fading.

Many floor companies may not know of the damage rugs can cause to heated floors and vice versa because heated floors are a relatively new thing.

Having your rug fade from a heated floor is not a big deal, but the damage to your flooring can be very costly.

The purpose of heating your floors is so you don't have to have carpet or rugs. This seems to be a case of one or the other, rugs or heated floors. You cannot have both and not have damage happen.

It is hard to not want an area rug to add colour and texture to your rooms, but with heated floors that is not an option. When you have heated floors installed it is best to use different colours of tile, stone, or wood to make a design that way.

With a little planning and designing you can add the look of an area rug within your floor. An old technique that is making a comeback, Inlay flooring.

Here are some grand examples of the design possibilities for inlay flooring.

Usually the only floors most people get heated are the kitchen and bathroom, leaving the living, dining and bed rooms free to be adorned with area rugs.

Here's to damage free area rugs, RugloverMary- area rug protector.

Live Moth Larva, cute but dangerous

2011-04-02T15:23:00.000-07:00

The elusive wool eating moth larva are shy little guys and it is hard to see them at work, but I have found them damaging a wool area rug. This rug was in a room that was used regularly, but it was rolled up and everyday dust and dirt made it a perfect home for moths.

They are hard to see up close with the camera because the largest one was no more that 1/4 of an inch long. There were more moth larva on this 3x5 foot rug, but as soon as I tried to get a closer look they disappeared into the fibers. These little guys were not that old, a few days at the most. They had not eaten enough wool yet to make any serious damage, but it wouldn't have taken much longer for them to do damage.

When you are not using your rugs get them cleaned before storing them, even if you are leaving them rolled up in a spare room. Moths don't care which room you put them in or if it is only for a month. They want a food supply for their larva to eat when they hatch.

After you get your rug cleaned if it is not wrapped properly for storage the rug can still become victim of moths. If your rug can get dust and dirt on it from the air it can make a good home for moths eventually. NEVER WRAP AREA RUGS IN PLASTIC FOR STORAGE! Plastic traps in moisture which causes many other problems to your rug whether it is wool or synthetic.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary, protecting your rugs from moths.

Attn Rug Hookers.......A History of Your Passion

2011-03-26T13:07:00.000-07:00

Rug hookers are a passionate folk. They sit down each day and pull thin strips of fabric through a backing to make a wonderful lasting piece of art, but where did this art form start and why?

The answer is easy to find on one of my favorite blogs, Tea and Carpets. Here you will find a deep history about area rugs and their origins.

Rug hooking came from necessity and has evolved into an art form. Unlike most fabric art forms rug hooking has thrived through the decades. You don't have to look very far to find a rug hooking group in your city.

One of my favorite places to see the magnitude of how far rug hooking has come from a floor rug to a highly sought after art form.
Deanna is one of many influential ladies in rug hooking art, April is another note worthy lady to follow.

As with most craft hobbies, rug hooking is relaxing, rewarding and fun. I think everyone should have a hobby that they can do anytime and anywhere. A hobby opens you up to new people and fills time appropriately.I don't do rug hooking, but since I am from Nova Scotia it is only a matter of time before I do.

Here's hoping that you take up a new or pick up on an old one, RugloverMary

Luv-A-Rug does more than clean Area Rugs

2011-03-15T14:26:00.000-07:00

For over twenty years Luv-a-Rug, previously Lug-A-Rug, has been cleaning area rugs from all over Victoria and Vancouver Island, plus we clean the hard to clean stuff too.

We repair hand knotted rugs, bind and serge rugs and carpet pieces, and replace or remove fringes.

We also clean boat sails, boat dodgers, boat canvas, loose cushions, luggage, mascots, and sheepskin rugs.

Last week we had an unique request from a lady who had bought three 3'x6' and six 2'x4' rag rugs from Capital Iron here in Victoria, BC and she wanted them turned into runners.

Here are two of the 2'x4' rag rugs she wanted turned into a 2'x8' runner.
This is not something we get asked to do very often, but we can do it with most rugs depending on how they are made.

If you find a rug that is too big Luv-A-Rug can also trim it down to the size you need.

First photo shows where the two rugs were joined, middle is the finished runner, last photo shows a close up of how the rag rugs were sewn together.

Here is what the two rag rugs looked like after being sewn together into a runner. These rag rugs had the ends folded over and sewn to the rug, so it was easy to unfold one end and sew it to the other rug. This made the rugs almost seamless and remain a two sided rug.

The client was thrilled with the finished look and that her runners could be used on both sides.

If you have a similar desire to turn small rugs into bigger rugs give Luv-A-Rug a call in Victoria 250-590-6210 or 1-800-886-2802

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary, helping you create your area rug vision

Are the 40 thieves trying to sell you an area rug?

2011-03-01T17:18:00.000-08:00

Are you getting a great deal or throwing your money away?
Fly-by-night rug sellers in auctions, hotel sales, airport hangers are a too good to be true deal

We are very happy when we score a great deal, no matter what the product or service, but we should also be thinking about quality along with the great price. It is not good to buy an wool area rug for cheap only to find out that it is really a synthetic rug.

Last year I wrote a blog post about the dangers of fly by night rug sellers. Yesterday in the mail Luv-A-Rug received a flier for a huge rug bankruptcy liquidation where you can buy authentic rugs for 80% off with a 2nd rug free. Wow! that is quite a deal.

It is a very enticing offer, but it sets off a few red flags. For one there is no information about who is selling the rugs, no company name or contact numbers or website. How are you to trust that they are an above board company to deal with? What are their qualifications, education, how long have they been in business?

Second they go on about how only the finest materials were used to make the rugs. Only the best wool, silk and cotton are used, I don't know about you, but I question the the validity of such a statement when they are selling them at such low prices.

It is easy to say that a rug is silk when it is not real silk. We have had a lovely lady bring in her "silk" rug that she purchased during her travels to China. She paid a large amount for the rug because she had watched the rugs being made and was told her rug was silk. It turned out to be an fake silk that had silk fringes added to the rug. It is always hard to break the news that the rug you bought is not the rug you paid for.

The third thing that jumps put as a red flag is the exchange warranty. The way it is written cancels out most of the rugs they would be selling, plus how do you exchange a rug when the people selling them won't be in town for more than a few days?

With events like this that sell area rugs in volume it is all about buyer beware. It is easy to get a great deal on a rug, but there is no after the sale service. Anyone can say that rug is worth a lot, but if you don't have trust in that person or company how do you really know?

The best way to see if they are a trustworthy company is to ask questions? Find out where they got their knowledge on area rugs, who and where they get the rug from. Shady companies don't like questions. Buying area rugs from a store that is located in your community, where the owners live, and they care about your needs for an area rug is always the best way to get a great deal.

If you do find a rug that you love, but want a second opinion ask if you can take the rug to get evaluated. Bring it to Luv-A-Rug and we will tell you what kind of rug it is and if you are getting a good deal. We are at 2-4144 Wilkinson Rd at Interurban 250-590-6210.

Here is a spoof of the tactics rug businesses use when going out of business.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary sharing my rug knowledge to make you knowledge too.

Spring Cleaning from Area Rugs to Ceiling

2011-02-25T12:54:00.000-08:00

It isn't easy to tackle the huge job of spring cleaning when you start to think of everything you need to do. When you look around each room your to-do list keeps getting longer and longer.

With a little bit of planning your mountain of chores can get done easier and faster. A few days ago I wrote a blog outlining how to tackle the big cleaning jobs by doing one a month. This makes it less stressful and easier on your wallet.

For even more tips on how to clean your whole home room by room and inch by inch check out this great blog by Change of Address.org. Here you will get the details of cleaning your closet to sorting out the stuff under the sink. Plus lots more tips about moving and organizing.

Whether it is daily cleaning or whole home cleaning it can seem like a boring daunting chore that most of us hate to do. There are small ways to make it a bit more fun:

Put on your favorite music and turn up the volume. Dusting doesn't seem to bad when you do it to the beat of music and the vacuum can make an excellent dance partner.
Get others involved. It is true that many hands make light work. Assign jobs to everyone that uses their talents and abilities.
Keep focused to one cleaning task at a time. I have a hard time with this one. When you start too many things at once nothing gets completed.
Reward yourself after the job is done. When you do your plan of attack for cleaning also add a reward for either each task or the whole job. For instance after you have finished cleaning the kitchen you reward yourself with a nice bath or going out for dinner.

Cleaning is part of life and by doing it on a regular basis the easier it is to do. Waiting until you have to clean causes much stress and for closets to get over stuffed with junk. By having a written schedule and reward system makes cleaning less a chore.

Please post your cleaning tips and experiences in the comments. The more we see others have the same success and issues the cleaner our world will be.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary-cleaning freak to her friends

Small Rugs and Washing Machines- Not a match made in Heaven

2011-02-24T17:23:00.000-08:00

The hardest thing about being an area carpet rug cleaner is having to explain to our clients that their rugs can no longer look like new. The reason for this can be too many permanent stains, sever moth damage, flood damaged, but the biggest reason is improper cleaning.

Just because an area rug will fit into your washing machine doesn't mean it should be cleaned in it. A lot can go wrong when using a washing machine to clean your little rugs. Not only can the damage be done to your rug, but also to your washing machine. When a rug gets wet it gets heavy, depending on how it is made some get very heavy and can break your washing machine. The pump can be ruined by the loose fibers and glues from your rug. The colours can bleed, your rug could shrink or wrinkle, or your rug could come apart.

Some area rugs are not made to get completely wet or submerged in water it will even say dry clean only on the cleaning tag. Your manual for your washing machine doesn't have a section on how to clean area rug either.

You may be thinking that it is a little rug so what if it gets ruined I can always buy a new one for cheap and you are correct, but what about the washing machine? Can you afford the repair or replacement cost?

The easiest way of cleaning your small rugs is not always the best way. Luv-A-Rug recently had a client come in with her little hand tufted rug that she washed in her washing machine. She asked us why her washing machine stopped working after she washed her rug. The reason is because her rug was glued together and the glue jammed up her pump. That made the cost of cleaning her little a lot more than she wanted.

This little rug was washed in a home washing machine and the colours have bleed and the sides are rippling. We did a repair on the ends cause they had gotten tattered in the washing.

No matter the size of your area rugs they should always get a professional cleaning to keep them looking their best and lasting for years, plus it saves you costly repairs.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary-protector of little rugs

Pet urine and your area rugs...not a match made in heaven

2010-09-01T17:32:00.000-07:00

This is my adorable Texas, who as cute as he is has forgotten to wake me up in the middle of the night when he has had to go outside. So what can we do to protect our rugs from midnight accidents?

It seems that our pets enjoy our rugs just as much as we do, but sometimes in a different way than we would prefer. They like to use some rugs as an indoor bathroom. Not the best use of our rugs that is for sure.

I have recently had an article about Pet Urine and area rugs published on the site Ezine Articles.

Here at Luv-A-Rug, we receive a lot of area rugs for cleaning because of pet accidents from mild to sever. No rug should ever get to the sever point. Pet urine damages your rugs. As soon as you notice that your rug has been peed on get it cleaned. The longer you wait the harder it is to get all the urine smell out, especially on wool and shag rugs. When you are puppy training try to not have any rugs on your floors. Puppies will find your rugs very convenient and the more they use your rug the more they know to always use your rugs.

The best way to not have your rugs used as a bathroom is to deter pets from your rugs right from the start. Sprinkling pepper, either white, black or cayenne, when you first lay your rugs down works as a good deterrent. Remember that nothing is full proof, but if you have pepper in your rugs for the first few days and your pet inhales it, they are not going to like it.

Dogs have been known to not pee or vomit on rugs that they use as a place to sleep. They don't want to lay on a dirty rug either, cats don't seem to have that same sense. It is good to have a nice soft warm blanket or rug just for your dogs to use and keep them away from your nice area rugs.

Have you tested and had success keeping your dogs from using your rugs as a bathroom or napkin?

Do you agree/disagree with what I wrote?

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary and pet lover.

No Area Rug is too small

2010-08-14T17:15:00.000-07:00

Luv-A-Rug cleaners in Victoria has another small area rug for cleaning and repair.
It is a bit larger than our last small rug from Yugoslavia, that little rug was 8"by 15".
This Pakistan woven bokhara (bo-car-ah) area rug and it is 12" by 12".

The ends are fraying which can often happen with bokhara rug.

Sometimes when they hand weave Pakistan rugs they do a few per loom and cut them apart. This leaves the sides of the rug raw, for lack of the a better word, and then they wrap around the edging.

The downside of that is the cut edge isn't strong enough to support the wrapped fiber and it eventually pulls away from the rug, exposing the raw cut edge.

We can fix the side pulling away in three ways:

We can cut it off and do a machine overcast stitch, which is like the edge already on the rug only done in a synthetic fiber.

We can also do a binding as well.

Which edging you choose depends on the rug and your investment budget for the rug.

And thirdly we can do a hand repair. Which is what we did one this little rug.

We recommended a hand repair on this rug because the machine repair would have stood out too much.

The overcasting stitch would have been too thick for such a small rug to blend in and not scream 'Hey look I was repaired'.

The client was very happy with the way the rug looks after repair.

He bought the Bokhara rug in England and was intrigued by the writing in the red strip. He thought it said something about the rug or the weaver or something inspirational.

He was told that it says: "Made of the Finest Quality for Western Market."

Makes you wonder what other fascinating messages are written on area rugs and if the Chinese and Japanese symbols people get tattooed really say what we are told they mean.

Knowing what the rug said only made it more special and now with it repaired it will last for many more years.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary, your local Victoria BC, area rug cleaning and repair expert

Pets+Pepper+Rugs=Happy Home

2010-08-14T13:07:00.000-07:00

A good way to deter pets from having accidents on your precious rugs

You finally found the perfect area rug, it is everything you needed for your home. You proudly take your rug home and put it in place. As you are sitting there chatting with your mom about what a great area rug you found, cute adorable Rover walks over to the rug and lifts his leg.

You are in shock at what you just saw happen. You jump up and quickly clean up the accident.

It can happen to the best trained pet. When they discover a new item in their house, they have to mark it as theirs. If this went unnoticed your pet could start using your precious rug as a bathroom, thus possibly ruining your rug.

Thankfully, there is a way deter pets from your rug as soon as you put it on the floor and that is Pepper.

I know sounds a bit weird, but after your pet sniffs the pepper they will avoid that area. You don't need to use a lot, nor do you usually need to put it all over the rug. Sprinkling it just around the edges usually works. One application of pepper should be enough to keep pets away from the rug.

As long as the pepper doesn't get wet it won't stain your rug and it is easily vacuumed up. Pepper can also be sprinkled any where you need to deter pets.

For your cats favorite chair to scratch, take some clear packing tape, make a loop with the tape with the sticky side facing out, stick the tape to the area they scratch at and sprinkle pepper to the side facing out.

In rare cases your pet may not be detracted by the pepper, but it isn't very often that this would happen. Pepper doesn't feel very nice when it is inhaled.

When using pepper of any kind make sure the area is kept dry, so that no staining occurs and vacuum it up after a couple of days so it doesn't attract other unwanted pests.

If you have other methods of keeping pets from bad behavior please share them. It is a common problem that may pet owners are faced with. It is frustrating when our precious items get destroyed by our beloved pets. Any suggestions you have are greatly appreciated.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary, your Victoria and Vancouver Island BC Canada, rug cleaning expert!

Fringes, fringes, and even more fringes

2010-07-10T15:14:00.000-07:00

When one fringe isn't enough, add more

It is always a treat when we get an unique rug in for cleaning. This is a pretty cool rug with the double fringes. this is not a normal thing to find on Turkish area rugs.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary, your Victoria and Vancouver Island BC, rug cleaning AND repair expert!

How would your rug look without fringes?

2010-06-24T12:38:00.000-07:00

When your area rug is new the fringes/tassels are crisp and fresh. After years of being vacuumed up and walked on the fringes look tired and worn and may be stained, so what can be done?

For most area rugs we can remove the fringes completely or we can replace the fringes. On hand knotted rugs we do authentic hand repairs to the fringes.

When posed with the question, "Would you like us to remove your fringes?", it can be hard to picture your rug without the fringes. Here is an easy way to make that decision:

Here are more before and after pictures of area rug repairs that we do at Luv-A-Rug.

Dingy and worn out fringes make a rug look older than it is and you fall out of love with your rug. Let Luv-A-Rug in Victoria BC make your rug lovable again.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary, your Victoria and Vancouver Island BC rug cleaning and new fringe expert.

The Beginnings of moth damage to a Wool rug

2010-06-15T15:27:00.000-07:00

Eagle eyes can stop Moth damage

I have written a lot of blogs about moth damage, but it was after the larva had eaten away a lot of the wool fibers. On Saturday we picked up a large Chinese rug from the Oak Bay area that had the beginnings of moth damage. Now when you inspect the back edges of your rug you will have a better idea what to look for.

As you can see the damage is very slight, but after a few weeks the larva can eat several inches and you wouldn't know it until you vacuumed and a hole appeared.

Whenever we find any evidence of moth larva activity we have to put your rug through our non-toxic moth treatment. The moth eggs are too small to see with the naked eye and the female moth can lay up to a hundred eggs at one time. There is no way of knowing how many eggs have hatched or how many are waiting to hatch.

Contrary to popular myth moth eggs do not go dormant for months like flea eggs. After a few weeks of not having the ideal hatching conditions they die, but again there is no way to tell if the eggs are still alive. That is why we must do our moth treatment to all rugs with any signs of moth activity. We cannot have cross contamination to our shop or another rug, plus it isn't good business to send a rug home and have the moth larva hatch and eat the rug.

If you can catch the moth damage early enough there is no visible damage to your rug. Remember a clean rug doesn't attract moths, so get your rug cleaned professionally every year or two, vacuum your entire rug often and check under the edges (4-6 inches) for the starting of moth activity.

If you do find moth activity call us and we will come pick up your rug and start our moth treatment right away.
250-590-6210/1-800-886-2802. Or if your rug is small you can bring it to our place on 4144 Wilkinson at Interurban.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary

Another example of Pile reversal in rugs.

2010-06-15T14:29:00.000-07:00

It is easy to forget to rotate your area rugs on a regular basis, and because of that you only see your rug in a certain way. After the rug is cleaned and you lay it down the rug can still look dirty. It isn't the cleaning process it is the way the light is reflecting off your rug. If you laid it down the opposite way it as before cleaning you may notice pile reversal.

Here is very distinct pile reversal on a wool Chinese runner.

When you bring your rug in for cleaning to our Luv-A-Rug, rug cleaning studio in Victoria BC, we let you know about any pile reversal your rug may have before we clean it. Pile reversal is noticeable before cleaning unless your rug is more dirt than rug, which we can take care of too.

Pile reversal is mostly caused by the way you walk over the rug. Every time you step on the rug the fibers twist and turn and after time the fibers can change to the opposite direction they were woven. This can happen on a synthetic or a wool rug and is permanent. The best way to slow it down and make it less noticeable is to rotate you rug ever few months. Flipping the rug 180 degrees allows for even wear patterns on your rug.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary, Your rug Victoria and Vancouver Island BC rug cleaning expert!

Gabbeh Rugs-From Tents to Your Home-A History

2010-06-05T14:10:00.000-07:00

I love Gabbeh area rugs. They have been my favorite rug since I started working at Luv-A-rug, here in Victoria BC, 3 years ago. Gabbehs are thick, plush and whimsical. I enjoy the traditional designs of random characters throughout the rug more so then the symmetrical designs.

The history of Gabbehs is rich and doesn't really have a starting point. The word Gabbeh loosely translated means bedding. The first mention of them is in the 16th century, but they were probably made for centuries before that. There is just no written proof of any earlier Gabbeh rugs.

The reason for lack of beginnings for the Gabbeh is because they were woven by Nomads who migrated in the summers to higher pastures with their livestock. The history of the tribe is woven in the rugs instead of on paper.

The Nomads made rugs to cover the floor of their tents that were easy to carry with them during their migration from the valley to mountains. Gabbehs are still made today in the same traditions. The designs are more symmetrical for today's rug buyer though.

They are made by the women who use the landscape and everyday life events to inspire their designs. Gabbeh rugs are woven in more daring colours then most hand knotted rugs because of the unrestricted nomadic lifestyle and because the rugs were made for personal use more so than commercial. That was until a Swedish furniture company mass produced them and sold them world wide.

Gabbeh rugs add a nice punch of colour to any room and are thick and plush. Gabbehs look like they were painted as there looks like brush strokes in the main body of the rug.

A few weeks ago we picked up two Gabbehs that belong to a local computer store owner. I was kinda hoping that they would forget about one of their rugs. It had a blue background with a single female character about 2/3 of the way up the rug. It looked like she was standing in the middle of an ocean because the background looked like waves.

When I look at a Gabbeh it is calming and intriguing. I try to figure out why the weaver used the characters and what story they are telling.

So next time you are in a Rug Gallery in Victoria or beyond that sells hand knotted rugs ask if they have any Gabbehs. They aren't everyone's taste, but everyone should see and touch a Gabbeh at least once.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary, Your Victoria BC area rug cleaning and Gabbeh loving specialist!

Area rugs and Lantern oil- It is fixable

2010-05-27T13:52:00.000-07:00

Not many of us own the old style oil lanterns. Lanterns were our backup light source when the power went out when I as growing up. I had one in my room that attached to the wall.

Here is a picture of one that I hi-jacked from the Internet courtesy of www.easychinasupply.com (not an endorsement). I remember having to trim the wick and the awful smell of the lantern oil and how I was to never play with it, which I never did Mom, yeah sure.

These lanterns are still used today and one meet an area rug a few months ago. A couple moved from Alberta Canada to Victoria, BC, Canada and just before the move a lantern fell on the rug.

The rug is a custom made rug. The middle embossing was a replica of the couples coffee table edging. Great detail work by the Calgary company who made the rug. The backing came unglued when the lantern oil meet it causing the rug to ripple front and back.

Now when you first look at this rug you may think why even bother. It is too far gone to make it usable again. We picked up the rug and brought it to our shop to have our repair tech look at it. He knew he could reattach the backing, but he wasn't sure as to how the top would even out. It isn't easy to know until you open up the back and see what exactly the lantern did.

As it turned out the front flatten out to make the rug usable and lovable again. The back isn't pretty looking, but it is a small thing compared to having to replace the whole rug.

If this rug could not have been fixed another option could have been to trim down the rug. We could have made it square or into a circle. Not all is lost when an accident happens to your rug, it just can seem that way.

If your rug should ever have a bad accident happen bring it to Luv-A-Rug, we will assess your options. We are located at 2-4144 Wilkinson Rd at Interurban, Victoria, BC 250-590-6210/1800-886-2802

For more info on rug cleaning or repair, go to our website at www.luvarug.com

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary making area rugs lovable after accidents happen.

Surprise! Your Wool Area rug can be Cleaned.

2010-05-26T13:35:00.000-07:00

At Luv-A-Rug I can receive anywhere from 10-30 calls a day about cleaning area rugs

I had just that type of phone call. It lasted almost 15 minutes and boy did she get a lot of information about wool area rugs and repairs.

The simple question of, "Do we dry clean wool rugs?" lead to fringe replacement and then onto hand repairs. I love shocking people when I tell them that we can wet wash a wool rug. Almost daily I encounter a client that still believes that wool area rugs should not only never be cleaned, but should never be wet washed.

Here are some myths and truths about getting a wool area rug cleaned:

Wool rugs will shrink-----only when cleaned improperly. After a wool rug is made it is placed in a pool of water and scrubbed. Wool rugs are made to withstand cleaning.
Wool rug will felt up like a sweater when washed-----since the wool on a rug doesn't rub against itself like a sweater in the wash it doesn't felt and tangle up. Cleaned correctly a wool rug looks the same after cleaning just with a lot less dirt.
Beating out the dirt like grandma did is all a rug needs----that is one step, but what about the oily dirt that sticks to the bottom of the wool fibers? This is harder to remove by just a good whacking with a broom. FYI: Luv-A-Rug's first step in cleaning is turning a rug upside down and vibrating the rug to remove the loose insoluble dirt before we even touch the rug with water.
Cleaning a wool rug will wear away the fibers-------not true at all, it is the dirt that sits at the bottom of the fibers that wears away the rug. Getting your rug professionally cleaned helps your rug last longer.
Wool rugs only need to be cleaned when they look dirty or when it gets a stain---waiting years or decades to clean your rug is doing more damage than cleaning ever would. The loose dirt your rug collects every day rubs against the fibers and cuts them away making your rug look older than it is.
Wool rugs should never be vacuumed----not only should they be vacuumed often to remove the loose dirt they should also be turned upside down and vacuumed. Using a rotating/beater bar vacuum on the back of your rug loosens the deep dirt and you get out so much more dirt. For the top of the wool rug use suction only as the rotating/beater bar pulls the small wool fibers and wears away the rug faster.
Wool rug is the same as synthetic carpet and can be cleaned the same way-----NO! wool rugs are completely different and need to be treated as such. Using many stain removers or cleaners from a hardware//grocery store can ruin a wool rug. Most of the stain and carpet cleaning products are made for synthetic only. If the label does not say wool safe IT IS NOT FOR WOOL.
Wool rugs can be cleaned in home along with my carpet------Again NO! If a wool rug isn't cleaned and dried properly it can damage your floor, cause mold/mildew to grow, cause your rug to rot, colours to bleed, the rug to shrink or smell bad. Professional cleaners know that to fully clean an area rug it must be done in a rug cleaning facility NEVER in your home.

Wool comes from sheep, it is hair that grows and gets cut and then turned into beautiful rugs, clothes and many other things. I tell people that wool is just like the hair on our heads. It requires water and soap to get cleaned and is sensitive to harsh solutions. Using anything too strong or harsh on our hair results in disaster, so why would we use it on wool?
I recently read that there isn't a science to cleaning a wool rug, but there is a soap science. Professional cleaners have the knowledge to know the boundaries of wool and what can be used to clean it.

Don't be afraid to ask the questions about how the company such as: how they cleans rugs and more specifically wool rugs, how long has the company has been cleaning area rugs (not carpet, but specifically area rugs), how the company treats specific trouble problems (pet urine, red wine, moth damage, flood damage).

You invested a lot into your rug make sure the company who cleans it has invested a lot into knowledge and training about area rugs.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary

Another Rug Victim to Moths

2010-05-20T17:01:00.000-07:00

What lurks in your basement could be eating your area rug

Last month we had a lovey lady come into Luv-A-Rug asking about getting a very large rug cleaned. The rug had been rolled up in the basement for years.

She was hosting a very special musical event here in Victoria and needed a rug to go under the piano.
The rug size was estimated at 12x16 feet, a very large rug by today's standards.

The area rug was not professionally cleaned nor properly wrapped for storage. My first thought and concern was that the rug was home to a lot of moth larva and damage. Moth's only leave a rug when they run out of the food source, ie wool.

The boss went to her house to look at the rug, and I am sad to report that it was very moth damaged. We could have cleaned the rug and did our moth treatment to it, but it was unusable. The moths had eaten away too much of the fibers to hide the damage.

All too often area rugs are rolled up and put in basements and storage units without being professionally cleaned and wrapped correctly for storage. Moths love dirty, dark, undisturbed area rugs. Having a dirty rug rolled up and stored improperly is prime for the little moths. Luv-A-Rug cleans and wraps area rugs for storing.

Do not take for granted that if you use a professional storage unit that your rug will be safe. Two weeks ago I had two phone calls from a client here in Victoria and one from Vernon, BC where their rugs were in Storage Places and their rugs got wet. Both were caused by carelessness of the Storage Places not the people renting the units. If the rugs were wrapped in Tyvek for storage they would have been safe.

No matter if you are storing it for a few months or years. It doesn't take long for a pregnant female moth to lay 50-100 eggs and for them to hatch and start eating your beloved rug. It saves you time and money to get your rug cleaned before putting it away.

You may think that I have written enough about moths and the damage they cause, but I don't think so. If that were the case I wouldn't see a lot less rugs that had moth damage. It is as simple as that.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary wool moth expert

Area Rug/Textile Conference in Stockholm

2010-05-04T11:37:00.000-07:00

Oh how nice it would be to pack up and go to Stockholm, Copenhagen and St. Petersburg for 3 weeks in June.

Why would I want to do this beyond the just because reason?

There is an amazing Rug/Textile conference happening there. Tea and Carpets posted it this morning.

This sounds like it would be a-once-in-a-lifetime experience to see all the rugs and learning their history, walking through the buildings, castles, and museums. My heart wishes that is was easy to just drop everything and run away to Europe for the month of June. Unfortunately life, budget and responsibilities get in the way. This is the kind of event where I wish teleporters were available.

In the Tea and Carpets blog he mentions an Anatolia "Marby" Area Rug. On the website Museum With No Frontiers I found out what the Marby Rug is.

To read more about the Transylvania area rugs Tea and Carpets covered that topic too.

I am looking forward to reading Tea and Carpets blog post about the event.

Living in this part of the world we don't seem to have the same interest in area rugs as the Far East does, too bad. Area rugs are fascinating and to experience the antiques in these tours would be educational to everyone who gets to go.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary

Another Shag Story

2010-05-01T10:25:00.000-07:00

If you have ever tried to vacuum a shag you know the frustration of having the rug fibers get stuck in the rotating brush. Shag rug are not easy to vacuum using the rotating brush or even the vacuum itself.

I had previously written about the best way to vacuum your shag area rug. Here is another way to remove even more loose dirt from your shag. By using the little upholstery brush, that we hardly use, it grabs the dirt and not the rug.

Shag rugs require more care and attention than most rugs. Using suction only to vacuum the loose dirt cuts down on your work and frustration. By turning the rug upside down first and vibrating the loose dirt closer to the tops of the fibers, then use the brush to vacuum the fibers you are making your shag last longer.

Thanks for reading, Ruglovermary

The Best way to Vacuum a Shag Rug

2010-04-29T13:28:00.000-07:00

There is no point in denying it Shag Area Rugs are back in fashion. They come in many different colours, textures and fibers. They compliment any decor and pets love them. They are not my favorite type of rug due to the fact that they are high maintenance.

Yes Shags are very high maintenance. They need to be cleaned more often than lower pile rugs, and they need to be vacuumed carefully. Here is a short video showing how to get a lot more loose dirt out of your shag rug

Shag rugs should be vacuumed weekly. Since the fibers of a shag rug act like Velcro they trap dirt easier than most other rugs, along with earrings, small toys, coins, and crayons. Those are just a few of the things we find hiding in shag rugs when they come in for cleaning.

Shag rugs are nostalgic for some and retro chic for others, no matter why you fell in love with your shag remember that it needs lots of attention in the cleaning department. You paid a lot for your shag make the most of your investment by vacuuming often and shaking out the lost treasures.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary

Seeing double with Area Rug Pad

2010-04-21T12:38:00.000-07:00

At first glance you may think that this rug is very faded on one side, but that is not the case.

The grey faded area is actually the sticky rug pad that was used to hold the rug in place on carpet.

It is a double sided sticky under pad and it is used to hold rugs in place on wall to wall carpet. It adheres to the carpet and to the rug. It is used to stop rugs from moving so much on carpet. It has a short life span though and stops working once it gets dirty. It loses it's stickiness and stops holding the rug in place.

It also can take the colour from your rug as shown here.

The Sticky pad could almost be used as a rug in this situation, it would be a bit tacky to the touch though. This is a great example to why you need to use the right pad for your rugs, but since the most common type of flooring is a hard flooring there are more options for area rug pad.

But what about when you have carpet? There are less options. Many may say that since you have carpet why use an area rug? Most people use a small rug in front of entrances and if you are renting using an area rug helps keep the carpet clean. Plus area rugs add colour to a room that carpet cannot do.

So what do you do for rug pad on carpet?

There are a few types, there is the sticky pad, and one that has small plastic nubs and non slip top, for large rugs there is a half inch pad that is soft on one side and stiff on the other. Those are the three ones I know that can be found in Victoria, BC.

Nothing will completely stop a rug from moving on carpet, the carpet fibers move with every step, but the rug pad helps your rug not stretch out of shape. Just be aware that not all rug pad is good for every rug and every floor type.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary

Wool Felt Area Rug Not Grey Swiss Cheese

2010-04-16T12:13:00.000-07:00

You may think that area rugs can get boring after awhile and you would be partly correct. When I see the same types of area rugs every day with the same issues it can get tiring. I still love the rugs, but I also enjoy rugs that are different and have a story behind them.

In the last two weeks we have some very unique and interesting area rugs for cleaning and repair. Today I am going to highlight one of those unique rugs.

At first glance you wouldn't think it was an area rug, but Surprise! it is.

This rug looks a lot like gray Swiss cheese, but it is a modern take on area rugs.

I love this rug purely for the fact that it is non traditional. Put this under a silver legged table with granny apple green walls and white sheer curtains, voila the rug adds texture. In a living room with a red sofa and chocolate brown coffee table and a funky lamp, ah home.

Going against the grain and using different types of area rugs should be embraced. I enjoy most classifications of decor, but I lean more towards modern, and sleek with classic lines and colours.

Wherever you draw inspiration from to decorate as long as you make it your style you can never go wrong.

I always love to write about unique area rugs and rugs with a great story or history. If you have a great rug, please bring it in and I will feature it on my blog.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary.

Improper Cleaning =Bad Results rug cleaning in Victoria BC

2010-04-08T16:50:00.000-07:00

I am going to shock you by a little known fact:

Very few Carpet Cleaners are certified to safely clean wool, be it area rugs, wall to wall carpet or furniture.

To be a certified "Wool Safe" company you need to take the Wool Safe Course and be certified by the Wool Safe standards.

I did a search on the Wool safe website and there are only 3 companies in Victoria who are certified Wool Safe. Luv-A-Rug is one of the 3 and we are Victoria's only area rug specialists.

Our rug cleaners are trained to care for wool properly, that is part of what sets us apart from our competitors and makes us the Wool experts.

It is also part of why we may charge more for cleaning than everyone else. We go beyond just a quick steam clean, we go to the bottom of the fibers to get out the deep embedded dirt.

Last week a lady called and told me the sad story of her Belgium area rug. She got it cleaned by a reputable carpet cleaning company and it came back pink. It wasn't checked for dye stability.

She brought the rug to us and we are going to see what results we can achieve to remove the colour bleed. It will be a slow process, but we are hopeful.

Chemistry time: the red dye molecule is the largest of all the colours. That is why it fades faster than other colours and bleeds easier.

So for all of us ladies who have dyed our hair red and weren't happy when it faded so fast, that is why. Guys if you have ever wanted to repaint your vehicle red and couldn't figure out why red costs more than the other colours that is why.

I will keep you updated as to the progress of this rug in the next few weeks.

When you are researching carpet and rug cleaners, ask about their training and certification. You paid a lot for your rug always trust it to the professionals.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary, your local WoolSafe rug cleaning company in Victoria BC.

How area rugs became Americanized

2010-04-06T17:19:00.000-07:00

Tea and Carpets has written another great blog about how Persian/Oriental rugs became more Americanized.

The love affair between East and West has been hot and cold for centuries. Each adapting the others styles and ways of life, tweaking them to fit and adding their own twists.

The mystery of the East has intrigued travelers, writers, and artists alike.

I love learning and sharing the history of area rugs. Tea and Carpets is a great resource for rug history.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary, Your Victoria and Vancouver Island BC, rug cleaning and loving expert!

Keep the old? or Keep the new?

2010-04-03T12:08:00.000-07:00

I have changed the look of my blog yet again. I am always trying to improve my blog to make it more enjoyable to read.

The question isn't whether I like how it looks, but do you the reader like it?

tell me your thoughts. Should I go back to a less busy background or keep the current?

The Origin of Our love Affair with the Oriental Area Rugs

2010-03-19T14:50:00.000-07:00

All love has a starting point and most love renews itself over time.

When it comes to area rugs, a resurgence happened in Europe in the early 1800's. Everything from the Orient became the items to possess.

One of my favorite area blogs, Tea and Carpets, wrote great post telling why Europe fell back in love with area rugs

No matter why you love your area rugs, as long as you love and use them. No all rugs have to be used on the floor either. Some make great wall hangings. Silk, viscose, and a beloved treasure make the best wall art.

Enjoy reading Tea and Carpets blog, I do.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary

40 Years and Still going Strong

2010-03-17T13:46:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we received a 9x12.5 wool Chinese area rug. The owner has had it for around 40 years and it has a lot of memories tied into it. The golden colour is very retro, but still can hold it's own even today.

Large area rugs are prime targets for damage from moths or carpet beetles. I know it wasn't moth that ate this rug. There was no larva casings any where on the rug.

When ever a large rug comes in for cleaning I always look for moth damage. Large rugs have furniture on them and have areas that are not used.

Moth damage can take weeks to happen, so it doesn't mean that you are not diligent in your cleaning. It only takes one pregnant female to lay her many eggs in an area that doesn't get walked on or vacuumed often.

To prevent moth's from making your rug lunch:

vacuum the entire area rug at least once a month
rotate your rug often
have your rug cleaned professionally deep cleaned every year or two
if you find any evidence of moth activity get your area rug taken care of by a professional

Moth's are wool''s natural enemy. By keeping your area rugs as clean as possible it is a lot less likely you will have moth damage.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary

DIY Cleaning tips-Are They From a Professional?

2010-03-17T10:28:00.000-07:00

A couple times a week I search other blogs about area rug cleaning. The most popular usually are the Do-It-Yourself (DIY)/Green Cleaning/Money Saving blogs.

Nothing wrong with trying to save money and keeping your house chemical free, but where is the advice coming from?

The blogs about DIY rug cleaning are mostly by every day people and not always by professional area rug cleaners.

One of the most important things missing from a lot of these blog posts is what kind of rug/carpet they cleaned. They usually don't say and that is where problems can arise.

Cleaning a synthetic area rug is much easier than a wool area rug. Synthetic rugs are mostly made from Olefin or Polypropylene (types of plastics). They are a great rug to have around small children, pets and in entry ways. They don't absorb spills and last a long time.

When spills or pet accidents happen on a synthetic rug, it is the cotton and jute foundation that absorbs the liquid and smells not the actual rug fibers.

Most cleaners and spot removers are made for synthetic carpets and area rugs, not for wool. They are too strong to use on Wool area rugs. A lot of the spot removers were made when carpet was the most used floor covering. Now hardwood/tile are the most used flooring.

Using the wrong spot removers on a wool area rug can ruin your rug. I use the analogy that wool area rugs are just like the hair on our heads. It is the hair of a sheep, it has cuticles and grows just like our hair and is sensitive to a lot of chemicals. We don't use harsh chemicals or strong shampoos on our hair, why use them on our wool rugs? The results are similar. Use bleach on a wool rug and the wool lightens or dissolves, same as our hair.

Since you cannot be sure of what kind of rug they are talking it about it is like playing Russian Roulette with your cleaning results.

There are safe spot removers for wool. Water is your safest spot remover. A damp White Cotton towel can get rid of a lot of every day spills.

White Vinegar and water is good for fresh, wet pet accidents. Once a pet urine has dried it is pretty much a permanent yellow stain, on wool, cotton, jute and sometimes synthetic.

For red wine put a White Cotton towel on the spill and stand on it. Keep stepping on the towel until either the towel is saturated or you are not getting any more wine off the rug. If you are still seeing wine come up, change to a new towel and keep stepping around the spill.

Club soda, water, salt, dry oatmeal also work at helping remove red wine. The salt and oatmeal absorb the wine, also works for any wet spills.

If you can still see the wine spill, wet a White Cotton towel until it is damp, and keep the spill moist and get it to your rug cleaners as soon as you can. Keeping the spill wet helps the wine not set and stain your rug.

Things to Never use on a Wool area rug are Baking Soda, and any other spot treaters that do not have a Wool safe symbol or say safe for wool. Always do a test spot no matter what you use for spot treatments. Every area rug is different and will react differently even to the same type of spill.

Out of all the stain, cleaning and spot removal advice out there the best things are a White Cotton towel, water, salt, and your professional area rug cleaners.

In a perfect world spills would never happen, in our world they happen every day. Drop by Luv-A-Rug to get your free bottle of our own spot remover. #2-4144 Wilkinson Rd. Victoria, BC 250-590-6210

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary, Your Victoria BC area rug cleaning expert!

Have a Large Rug You Want to Use but Cannot?

2010-02-19T15:14:00.001-08:00

Are you now in possession of an area rug that is too big for you to use?

If you ever find yourself inheriting an area rug from a family member that you like but cannot use due to the size there is help.

At first glance of this Persian area rug you wouldn't know that it has been shortened. Yes this rug as cut then seamed together.

It was done in the middle even though looking at the far end it looks like the diamond was cut in half. That is where they stopped the pattern for some reason. I don't know why they didn't finish the last diamond, but it adds character to the hand knotted rug.

Here is what the rug looks like on the back where it was sewn together.

You can clearly see the difference in the small diamond design.

This rug was shortened by a professional area rug repairer. The rug is rewoven to make it whole and then stitched to keep everything together.

This as what caught my eye when I was doing my visual inspection of this Persian rug. Normally when you see two different colours in a hand knotted rug it is abrash, when wool that was dyed at different times is used.

It was the line in the rug that made me look closer. This is why a thorough pre-inspection of rugs is necessary.

If I didn't point this out to the client and they didn't know about it before hand, they would have been surprised to see it after cleaning.

They may think that our cleaning process lightened areas of their rug, until we showed them the seam in the back.

You may be thinking how would someone not notice that the rug was altered when they got the rug? Easy, the client could have gotten this rug second hand and plus, when we go shopping for an area rug we are thinking about:

Size
Colours/design
Price

I point out things to clients all the time that they have never noticed about their rugs. People only really look at their rugs after they have been cleaned or when they were in someone else possession.
After reading this go take a good look at your rugs front and back, if possible. What do you see?

Does the colour change through the pattern
Is the rug straight on all sides
Is the border exactly the same on both sides
Is the colour darker or lighter on the back
Are the fringes the same on both ends

You maybe surprised at what you find.

Here at Luv-A-Rug, in Victoria BC we can alter the size of most area rugs, depending whether they are machine made or hand knotted or tufted. Why should you have an area rug that you cannot use?

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary, Your Victoria BC rug cleaning and rug repair expert!

A Unique Silk Hunting Area Rug

2010-02-17T16:12:00.001-08:00

Here is a video of a Silk area rug with an animal hunting scene. I find it interesting that the pattern is a mirror imaged on the rug. They used a small pattern 4 times to make this rug. Saves on having to draw some many different animals.

It is not uncommon for a rug artist to only draw a small portion of the rug. If the pattern is being repeated throughout the rug they don't need to draw out the whole rug. Just like in using blue prints for building 30 houses. When the houses are all the same you do not need 30 sets of the same drawings.

To be an area rug designer you must go to school for 18 months and learn everything about rug weaving and the history of what the different patterns and colours mean. Plus you must first be a very good artist to apply for the course.

In India it is mostly women learning rug design to supplement their husbands income. Rug designers do not get paid much. If my memory is correct it is around 3600 a year.

The good thing is if your design is really good it is used many times for years. the down side the designers only get paid once for their design, not every time it is used.

It is amazing the amount of work that goes into a hand knotted area rug. First the design has to be thought up,drawn out and colours identified on graph paper. Then the weaver gets the wool ready, which can include shearing, spinning and dyeing the wool.

Next comes the weaving of the rug which can take a few months to years. After the rug is done it is trimmed even, washed, dried and sent to market.

All to be walked on for years. Quite an amazing process when you think about it.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary

Do you have a Curvy Area Rug?

2010-02-05T16:37:00.000-08:00

How does an area rug develop a curve in it?

The answer:

Not using the right under pad.
Putting the rug on carpet
Having furniture on one area and walking on the rest
It was that way when it as made
One side got wet and shrunk

There are many ways an area rug can warp put of shape, but it can be repaired.

With a combination of blocking and sizing a rug can be made straighter and help get out stubborn wrinkles. Please only use a professional to do this.

This rug is not getting straightened at this time, but the client knows that it is possible.

If you have an area rug that you don't know if it is worth getting cleaned or repaired bring it to Luv-A-Rug. We will tell you if your rug can be saved or if it time to replace it.

If your rug is too big or heavy for you to bring in we can pick it up. Call us at 250-590-6210 or drop by at 2-4144 Wilkinson Rd, at Interurban.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary, your local Victoria BC rug cleaner and rug lover!

Why you cannot trust the Labels on the back of rugs

2010-02-04T17:13:00.000-08:00

Most are rugs have labels on them. Usually it is put there by the company selling the rug or the manufacture.

This label was put on by the manufacturer describing the rug.
Unfortunately this label is not completely correct.

The correct things about the label is that this rug was made in India and the size on the bottom label.

The incorrect things are that it says it is hand made, the size on the top label and that it is from Gabbeh.

I don't know of a city named Gabbeh and it is not a Gabbeh area rug either.

The size on the upper label would make this rug 6.5x9.2 feet, which it is not.

This rug is hand tufted because the back is not the same as the front. It is a cloth backing. The hand made part is semi correct in that hands touched rug in the making of it.

Why would this label be put on the rug if it doesn't accurately describe the rug?

Here are some reasons why:

These are the labels the manufacturer have on hand
A new person was working that day and sewed the wrong labels on the rug
The manufacturer was leaning on the shady side of things

There is no way of knowing the real reason why. All I can tell you is that this label is incorrect in the description of the type of rug and that is why I don't read the labels.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary

Potted Plants + Area Rugs= Bad News

2010-01-13T16:21:00.001-08:00

Live potted plants are great for our homes, but not so great for area rugs. If you have a potted plant on your rug please remove it immediately.

The problem with having a plant on your rug is that every time it gets watered, some of the water may miss the pot, the pot may over flow, or the pot may develop a leak.

Excess water on a rug can cause mold/mildew to grow, the colours to bleed, and possibly the rug to rot.

The following video shows what can happen when you put a live Christmas tree on a rug.

If you discover water damage on your area rug Luv-A-Rug can help.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary, Your Victoria BC area rug cleaning expert!

Pakistan rug with a twist

2009-12-16T13:43:00.001-08:00

It is both wonderful and a bit frustrating when we get in a rug that doesn't fit into a particular rug type.

Luv-A-Rug received such a rug today. Identifying this rug was a bit tricky because it has a few traits from a a few different areas.

This rug has a doubled edge wrap on the sides-----Turkish like
The colours are subdued
The weaving style says Pakistan
The pattern is not typical Pakistan nor Turkish

We concluded that it is more Pakistan than anything with a very Art Deco design feel to it. The rug was probably made for sale in the western markets (North America and UK).

This is a more traditional look of a Pakistan rug.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary

William Morris.................possible relative?

2009-12-10T17:28:00.001-08:00

I read a blog by The Textile Blog about a gentleman named William Morris from England. This particular post is about a woodpecker tapestry, but they had written a lot about William Morris. Since they written many blogs on this guy I decided to dig deeper too find out what was so great about him.

At the bottom of every post it gives you extra links to previous blogs about the same topic. That is how I began my journey to get to know William Morris.

I then did a Google search to find out about the person, since The Textile Blog did such a great job in highlighting the designer, William.

All the bio's I found about William concentrated on his life more so than him being a textile designer, which was great.

William Morris was born into a wealthy, privileged family, but he hated money and what it did to people. He spent his adult life fighting for Socialism. When he couldn't find the right guy to back in this cause he started his own Socialist Party.

He was an accomplished poet and writer. He turned down the position of the Poet Laureateship because it meant being a member of the Royal family-which stood for everything he did not.

While I read about his life of politics and writing I had a hard time figuring out when he made time to design his textiles. No matter what style was in fashion at the time he kept his designs about nature.

I can identify a bit with William. My last name is also Morris, I don't like how money buys privilege, how there are different classes of people, and have a dream of a type of Socialist govern world. I am a poet and writer as well.

Here is the bio on William Morris that I found the most informative

I very much enjoy learning about other people's lives and about history. That is why I love learning about area rugs as well.

Hopefully this inspires you to dig a bit deeper into the area rug world.
Thanks for reading, RugloverMary

Want to know more about Area Rug Origins?

2009-12-10T11:29:00.000-08:00

You may have guessed that I have a passion for area rugs. I will not deny it. Area rugs are fascinating. They are rich in history, war, dark secrets, hidden love affairs..........too much? Okay, to me area rugs aren't boring.

My friends think I am crazy and laugh when I say I write area rug blogs, but I don't mind. They have hobbies and things that they are passionate about mine just happens to be area rugs.

What comes to mind when I say Tea and Carpets?

For me it means a very good history lesson on area rugs and a mighty good read.

Tea and Carpets is more than just an area rug blog. It gives you an in-depth history lesson and transports you to another time.

I just finished the latest post and it was about two rug patterns, Chintamani and Bird, that have gone by the way side.

There is also and accompany story link at the end of the post that is well worth the read. The writer in me instantly got sucked into the story and the agony of the character.

Tea and Carpets goes deep into the how, what and why of area rugs. Even if you don't know much about area rugs you can still get a lot out of this blog. Check it out you will not be disappointed.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary

Another Moth Vacation comes to an End

2009-11-17T17:31:00.001-08:00

It is very sad when we get in an area rug that has been infested by moths. For some rugs it is just a bit of minor damage, for others it can be an all out free buffet and the whole family shows up.

This video is of a small Gabbeh area rug that has somewhat minor, but noticeable, moth damage, and a moth larva caught in the act. I do apologize for the blurriness of the video. I was trying to get all the action that was happening and not paying attention to what I was doing with the camera.

THE BEST WAY TO PREVENT THIS IS TO HAVE YOUR RUGS CLEANED BEFORE STORING THEM.
No matter how short of a period. It only takes one pregnant female moth to lay 50+ eggs and your rug is a haven.

ALSO TO VACUUM THE ENTIRE RUG OFTEN.

Moth's cannot survive on a clean rug, they need dirt, dust, food spills, and for the rug to be undisturbed.

I know that it isn't easy to vacuum ALL of the rug because of furniture placement, but it is worth it!

It is cheaper to pay a few neighbour kids or con family members into doing it for you than having to replace the rug and getting rid of the moth infestation.

Here is more information about the life cycle of the moth, how to prevent an infestation and what to do if you find one.

Just like with fires.............Only you can prevent a moth infestation!

Thanks for reading and viewing, RugloverMary

My first Video Blog

2009-11-12T15:20:00.000-08:00

Here is my first attempt at video blogging. Please forgive the fact that it is a bit raw. I will get better at it the more I do.
In my short video I show how some fringes can easily be removed. Please note that not all fringes can be removed in this manner. Always check with a rug cleaning professional, and get them to remove them for you. Most of the time the fringes are part of the area rug and cutting them will cause the rug to start to fall apart.

I called the rug a British India, but outside of Canada this type of rug is called an Indian Aubusson rug. This type of rug is a mock copy of Chinese rugs; Here is a past blog I wrote about telling the difference between the two types of rugs.
If there is a design on the British Indian/Aubusson rug it is usually craved around to give it texture or dimension.
Removing fringes from certain types of area rugs gives the rug a new look. Stained and worn down fringes make your rug look old and not very lovable. There are a few different ways to re-finish the ends of your rug so it stays together.
At Luv-A-Rug we can do a serge/overcast stitching, a ribbon binding, or hand repair to stabilize the ends.
When you get tired of the vacuum eating the fringes bring you rug to us and we can put the vacuum on a permanent diet.

What does a Scandinavian Hooked Rug look like?

2009-10-16T14:36:00.000-07:00

I love it when we receive a different kind of rug for cleaning. Today we got a hand hooked rug from Scandinavia.

Rugs from the Scandinavian regions are also known as Rya rugs. They started out as a way for fisherman and hunters to keep warm and turned into area rugs.

The weaving technique is different from the rug hooking we do in North America.
They use a wool woven flat rug for their backing then they loop through the shaggy pile.

To get the multi-tonal look several wool fibers of different shades of the same colour were pulled through the same hole. To do a blended colour change several fibers of different colours would be pulled through together.

These rugs came in complete kits, same as you would buy here in North America. This particular pattern is called Birch.

From the back, you can see the fibers are hooked in straight lines. The weaver used every second line for a less dense rug.

I am curious to know if the pattern called for using every second line to be used or if you had the choice to use every line to make it thicker?

If you have family or friends who are from Finland, Sweden, or Norway ask them if they know of the Rya rug kits used to make hooked rugs back in the "Old Country" and post your findings.

Here is a close up of the front of the rug. You can slightly see the different colours of wool in each knotted tuft.
To keep these shags looking their best you need to vacuum between each row of fibers.

Shaking the rug will cause the loose dirt to get caught up in the fibers, not recommended.

As with all shag rugs it is near impossible to remove all the loose dirt trapped at the bottom of the fibers. The fibers fan out or lay down trapping the dirt.

The best place to use shaggy rugs is in an area that doesn't get walked on a lot or near food areas.
I love seeing unique area rugs that have a history. If you have such a rug please bring it in to Luv-A-Rug and your rug can also be featured on my blog.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary

I found two great blog written on Scandinavian/ Rya rugs:

The Textile Blog tells about the 1960's rug trends

The Ouno Blog tell about the history of how these rugs came to be and how they changed over the years

Blog Content Face Lift

2009-10-07T16:46:00.000-07:00

Don't tell anyone, but I am getting a face lift. Well, at least my blog is. I have spent the last week reading and subscribing to online courses on how to make my blog better.
I knew that my blog wasn't as good as it could be, but it isn't as bad as I thought. I am following the rules to having a great blog, I am just not doing it on every blog post.
When I started writing my area rug blog I had no direction. All I wanted was to educate people about area rugs and how to care for them. Simple enough until you have written over a hundred blog posts and they start to get a bit dry and forced, in my opinion.

Here is my goal:

By the end of October I will have a direction for my blogs

My purpose for the rug blogs will be more defined

My blogs will have action

That is all for now!
Thanks for reading, RugloverMary

What makes your rug loveable?

2009-09-24T17:08:00.000-07:00

Every area rug made is beautiful..........to someone. If we all had the same tastes life would be very bland. Many of us probably have that one area rug in our house that doesn't go with the decor, but we have to have it out.

What do you think when you are walking through someone house and you come across a rug that looks ugly to you? Before you stick your foot into your mouth, you may inquire if there is a story behind the rug.

We get a lot of hand hooked rugs in very interesting colours and patterns that are cherished. The clients mother, father or grand parent made the rug, so they want to preserve it.

It does baffle me a bit when we get multiple rugs from a client and there will be a few awesome hand knotted rugs and then there will be one machine made rug that does quite fit with the rest of the rugs. It could be that the colours or pattern is completely different or that it is a different fiber type.

The reason for this can be that they needed a rug for the back door and bought what they saw first that fit. It could be that they are still looking for the perfect rug, but needed one right away.

There are a lot of reasons why people own the rugs they do. I love the fact that I can ask them why they own the rugs they do and it isn't out of the ordinary. The stories that rugs tell are amazing. It usually happens that I am telling the client about the origins of their rugs more so than they telling me.

It does establish confidence in the client when I start telling them the type of rug they have and a bit if the history about it and they already know it. It shows that I know what I am talking about.

The best part of my job is letting people know that they have more than just a rug. They may have a prayer rug, or a Turkish kilim, or even a 19th century saddle bag.

Even though you may think you have just an area rug, there is more lurking under your toes than you may think.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary

Before you Spray Read On...

2009-09-23T16:59:00.000-07:00

Miracle sprays, late night TV is full of them. You are mesmerized by the great results one little bottle can achieve.
But Wait!! There is more.
A Lot of those miracle spot removers advertised are for synthetic fiber rugs, not WOOL. Always check the label to see if it is safe for wool or has the wool symbol.

The leading OXYgen cleaner can do permanent damage to your wool rug. Yes it is a miracle fixer for your cotton clothes, not wool area rugs. The quick fix spot remover can lead to expensive repair costs.

This rug is a 9x12 foot Cream coloured British India (Indian Abusson) with a craved in design.

It had either cranberry juice or red wine spilled on it and now because of a miracle spray spot remover the rug has permanent yellow stains.

The spray did one of to things:

Removed the red spot and dyed the wool yellow through oxidation or
It bleached out the red spot to yellowish/brown spot.

Either way it was not the desired result by the owner.
They do have a few options:

Live with the yellow spots

Replace the rug

Or get the whole rug dyed a new colour.

If the spots were one the end only we could trim the rug back, but there are yellow stains in the middle of the rug too. We are still waiting for the client to decide what they want to do. Not an easy decision when the rug is this big and fits their decor.

This does give the home owner a chance to redecorate the whole room differently though. Yes it would be more to redecorate than find a similar rug, but sometimes a new look is good too.

PLEASE read the label of any spot removers or cleaners you may have. If it doesn't say it is safe for wool do not use it.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary, Your Victoria BC wool rug cleaning expert!

Results Not Typical

2009-09-09T15:17:00.001-07:00

This is the wool Chobi rug that had the wine spill on it. No really, it is!!

We were surprised that it completely disappeared and the client was overjoyed.

It isn't every rug that we can get red wine out of. Plus if it happens again on this rug we cannot predict if we can make it disappear again.

Area rugs have a habit of reacting differently every time they are cleaned. People ask us what to do when a red wine spill happens.

I don't like to give spot removal advice because so much can go wrong.

I will pass along what others have passed onto us with the warning that it is at your own risk.
I nor Luv-A-Rug is responsible for any results due to the application of any spot removal treatments.

Okay with that out of the way. People have poured salt on red wine, dry regular oats, they suck up the red wine, some have even counteracted the red wine by pouring white wine on the spill (not recommended due to the fact that you are now pouring out more wine).

The best thing to do is to take a plain white cotton towel and put it on the spill and stand on it. The cotton will suck up the wine.

If you are not able to get it in to your professional rug cleaner, keep the spot moist, not too wet, and leave the cotton towel on the spill with weight to keep the towel down on the rug.

Wool area rugs stain very easy by red wine. The same berries used to make red wine were also used to dye the wool when the rug was woven. Now back to the Chobi area rug.

This is the back of the rug. There is no evidence of the wine spill at all. The really great thing is the colours did not fade with the treatment used to combat the red wine.

As it should be when a professional, trained and experienced area rug cleaner would achieve.

The unknown pink spot remained, unfortunately. Considering how large the red wine spill was the little pink spot can be overlooked.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary

Sheep Skin Now Available

2009-09-04T12:08:00.000-07:00

Today I got the business card of a company called Soul Comfort. My boss happened upon their shop the other day.

Soul Comfort sells Sheepskin and Sheep wool products. They are located in Hillside mall in Victoria, BC and on 190 Fourth St. in Duncan, BC.

I especially like all the products for pets. I know my little Chihuahua would love a sheep wool doggie bed, thank goodness he cannot shop nor go into malls.

Sheepskins have so many uses. We have two sheepskins in our shop being cleaned that were meant to be attached to the seat of a Harley motorcycle. They didn't quite make it there the first time, they became dog beds.

However the owner says that after they are cleaned the will go straight to the Harley. Well at least he knows his dogs have good taste.

Sheep skin rugs work well in front of a fireplace because they don't melt when an amber sparks onto it. They add a nice detail element to any room and with all the colours and sizes available you are sure to find one that works for you.

Next time you are in Hillside mall or Duncan pop into Soul Comforts and see what they have to enhance your life and home.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary

Wool Gabbeh Rug

2009-09-03T16:53:00.000-07:00

I love Gabbeh area rugs they are my absolute favorite rugs.

I love the whimsical, random, primitive figures and the bright vibrant colours used in these rugs.

Most Gabbeh rugs are wool pile on a cotton foundation, with a multi-coloured side wrap and randomly put figures. They are thick, plush, inviting rugs to walk upon.

The Gabbeh rugs I have seen lately have a symmetrical design of the primitive figures, not my preferred look. On this Gabbeh, you can see dark and light stripes in the orange area. That is a trait of a Gabbeh. It is called Abrash.

Abrash is caused by the wool being dyed in different batches and fading at a different rate. Very natural occurrence and usually a desired one on most hand knotted area rugs.

This is the Gabbeh that we received today for cleaning. The striping is very evident even though it is a off white/beige colour.

Again the pattern is symmetrical in lines, but the figures are random in the order they placed. The unique thing about this Gabbeh is that the foundation is wool. You can tell by the fact that the fringes are wool and not cotton.

Not a common feature of most Gabbeh area rugs.

You will notice that every two rows of figures are a lined and then the next two rows shift slightly. Just another way this Gabbeh rug is distinctive.

When was the last time you really looked at the pattern on your area rug?

Most people it is when they have it cleaned. If you don't get you area rug cleaned on a regular basis, once every year or two, then you may be missing out on what makes your area rug special.

Remember your area rug is more than just a floor covering, it is a work of art. There is beauty every where no matter if your area rug is hand knotted or an inexpensive department store rug.

Here is a closeup of the back of the rug and the fringes.

The red that you see is the weft, the piece of wool or cotton that is in between the row of knots. If this rug gets flooded or improperly cleaned the red can bleed through to the front of the rug, not good.

There are many little things that have to be considered when cleaning an area rug. That is why you shouldn't let just anyone clean your rugs.

Luv-A-Rug has been Victoria, BC's Area rug Experts for over 20 years. We know area rugs. Let us put the love back into your rugs, call 250-475-3922/1-800-886-2802 for pick up.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary

Chobi and Wine

2009-09-01T16:12:00.001-07:00

Chobi+ wine+ cat= this.
You get a rather large wine splatter, as you can see in the upper right of the photo.

This area rug is an 8x10 Chobi. In case you don't know much about Chobi area rugs here is a quick description:

Chobi rugs are hand knotted wool rugs made in the mountainous tribal villages of Afghanistan and Pakistan. They are made with high quality wool and dyed with vegetable dyes.

The name Chobi is derived from chob rang which describes the wood like colouring these rugs have. Chobi rugs have a wonderful antique look that compliments any decor.

Chobi rugs are perfect for entrances and reception areas as they make a strong artistic impression and are very durable. Durable in the fact that they stand up well to lots of foot traffic not so much in wine spills.
The first picture in this trio is a close up of the wine spill. The cat didn't like that fact that the wine glass was in it's way.

The middle picture is of the back. I darkened it a bit to show that the wine is pretty deep into the fibers.

The last picture is of an unrelated spot. It is pink in colour. I let the client know that it may still remain after cleaning and spot treatment. The results are still a bit unknown at this time.

Our rug cleaning tech here at luv a rug cleaners in Victoria says that wine can be very difficult to remove completely. The spill was a week old by the time the rug got to us.

Worst case scenario, we lighten the wine spill. We always strive for the best case scenario in which we remove the red wine completely.

When red wine get spilled on your rug please do not panic! grab a WHITE COTTON towel put it on the spills and stand on it. Keep moving a clean part of the towel on the spot and standing until you no longer get any transfer of red wine. You can also put dry oats or salt on the red wine when it is wet to absorb the wine.

Put a damp towel on the spill and keep it damp, not too wet, and get a professional rug cleaner to take care of the rest of the spill marks immediately

NEVER USE BAKING SODA, OR OTHER SPOT CLEANERS ON YOUR WOOL AREA RUGS. They do more damage than the spill you re trying to get rid of.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary, your local Victoria BC rug cleaning expert!

Summertime rug cleaning

2009-08-29T14:46:00.000-07:00

The month is ending on a mixed note. We have one day where we get lots of rugs dropped off for cleaning and a few are picked up. The next day lots will get picked up and hardly any will come in. Some day we will have a balanced day, someday. Depending on the Saturday we can have a good mix of drop offs and pick ups, but with the summertime it seems to be one or the other.
August was a busier month than July, but September is busier than August.
September is busy because vacations are over, the company has gone home, and the summertime running in and out is dwindling down. Area rugs collect a lot of loose dirt, sand and debris over the busy summer months. With the seasons soon changing many people swap their area rugs. They have summer rugs and winter rugs, just like your wardrobe and they get their summer rugs cleaned before storing.
Always get your area rugs cleaned before storing!
I have written a few blogs about that topic.
Moths and other critters have no problem making your rug home for a few months/years.
Clean rugs lack the necessary nutrients moths need to survive. Getting your rugs cleaned adds to the health of your homes environment. With the temperatures going lower we are keeping our windows and doors closed more. Removing the dust/dirt/debris from your rug makes the indoor air better.
Here's saying goodbye to a great summer and looking forward to a wonderful autumn.
Thanks for reading, RugloverMary

Forty Year Old Dhurrie

2009-08-27T15:00:00.000-07:00

Have you seen a forty year old wool Dhurrie area rug recently? I have. One came in today.
The client bought it in London at a store called The Habitat in 1970. It is a very treasured area rug. One side is faded and that is the side they use when it is put out on the deck. The darker side is up when they uses it indoors.
This is a perfect example of sun fading. The faded effect adds to the character of the rug.
Dhurrie area rugs are usually two sided which is good if one side gets too dirty you can just flip it.

Dhurrie rugs are hard to find right now in Victoria,BC. If you sell Dhurrie/flat weave area rugs please let me know. I can send buyers you way.
Thanks for reading, RugloverMary

How to turn summertime blues into clean rugs

2009-08-21T11:47:00.000-07:00

In the summer months business can drop off a bit. With people on vacation there is little thinking about getting their area rugs cleaned. What can you do to help ease the summertime blues?

While you are listening to the song 'Summertime Blues' you can go through your past cleaning orders and select people to contact.

Go back a year or two or even as little as six months and send them a postcard with a reminder that their rug needs to be cleaned again.

You could even include a 5-10% off coupon for scotch guard, rug under pad, if you carry it, or any other service you provide.

Also give the postcard an expiry date that is clearly visible. The expiry can be two weeks or thirty days. Anything longer and it could get forgotten.

It is a good idea to not print the expiry date on the card but stamp or hand write it in, that way you can print off a large amount and use them throughout the year.

The postcard doesn't have to be fancy or expensive. There are tools in Microsoft Office or Word that have templates you can use. Once you have designed it your local Copy and Print Center can print them up for you.

You can also print out the cards yourself, that way you can personalize them by letting the client know when the last time they had a particular rug cleaned. Many people may not remember the last time their area rug was cleaned.

In October, you could send out postcards reminding people that with the holidays fast approaching their area rugs need to get freshened up for company. If you offer scotch guard like finish give it a 3-6 month warranty that within that time frame they can bring it in for a free of 1/2 priced cleaning. That way the client can take care of any spills or messes that my have occurred over the holiday season.

By sending previous clients a reminder it lets them know that you care about the health of their rug. It is also a good way to let clients know if you added a new service.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary

Unique Wall Tapestry

2009-08-19T12:54:00.000-07:00

It is very true that you get back what you put out into the universe. I had literally hit the publish button on yesterdays blog when a client brought me a very unique tapestry. It was made to be a wall hanging, but it was used instead as a bedspread for the guest room. She was given it as a gift from her husband 30-40 years ago. It has been in storage for years and the owner wants to know more about it before she decides what to do with
it.
The tag on it says cotton and rayon/viscose and that it is made in Italy. The fibers tricked me into thinking that they might be wool, but upon deeper investigation I have found that they are not wool. Here is a closer view of the top fibers. The colours are very vibrant and do not bleed.. The fibers are soft, shiny and compel you to touch it.

I have done an inquiry on the rug hub to find out about the origin of this beautiful tapestry.
If you have any thoughts about the history of this wall tapestry please let me know.
Thanks for reading, RugloverMary

Summer Rug Repeats

2009-08-18T12:38:00.000-07:00

I have writers blank, no not block actual blank. Everyday I try to think of a topic to blog about and I come up blank.
There have been some unique rugs come into Luv-A-Rug for cleaning and repair, but not much to write about. I have covered the topic of rug repairs a lot in my previous blogs.
As vast as the subject of area rugs is when you break it down there isn't a lot of new topics to write about.
I have written about moth's,
Area rug repairs,
proper rug storage so many times that I cannot make it original any more.
I have been reediting my RugloverMary rug blog for the past week and I have noticed a lot of the same blog topics.
It is a bit difficult to write about upcoming area rug events since Victoria, BC usually doesn't have any area rug events.
I am sure that my writer's blank will pass, as it has done so in the past.
Thanks for reading, RugloverMary

Area Rug Hooking

2009-08-04T17:24:00.001-07:00

I remember my neighbour hooking little rugs as a hobby when we were teenagers. I, on the other hand, crocheted and collected rocks, still do both today. I was under the impression that rug hooking had weened off in popularity, boy was I wrong.
My boss suggested I look up rug hooking in Nova Scotia, Canada because I was going there on vacation. That lead me to a website that offered a rug hooking tour in Nova Scotia.
With a bit more searching I found a rug hooking shop near to where I was going be visiting in Amherst, Nova Scotia. Deanne Fitzpatrick is very talented and has amazing hooked rugs for sale. I did not get to visit Deanne when I was in Nova Scotia. I couldn't find the shop because I was looking for it on Church St, but I see that it is on Electric St. Next time I visit Nova Scotia I will certainly go visit her shop. Her video's on youtube make me want to run out and get all the supplies to start hooking rugs. I never thought of taking up rug hooking, don't know why. I do cross stitching and crocheting it is those two put together.
At Luv-A-Rug cleaners, here in Victoria BC we get a few hooked rugs that the clients husband or grandfather did. A lot of men took up rug hooking after the war. The largest hand hooked rug we have cleaned was 7 feet by 9 feet. It took someone a long time to hook that. We see more of the hooked rugs that have a cut pile more so than the looped style.
Another thing I was not aware of are the rug hooking shows. Here is a blog about one in Archbold, Ohio.
With all that I have read and seen on rug hooking I am inspired to go try it. If I don't like it at least I can say that I tried it.We should all try a new hobby once in awhile.
Thanks for reading, RugloverMary, your local Victoria and Vancouver island BC rug cleaner and ruglover!

Before you toss your rug read on............

2009-07-16T15:57:00.000-07:00

When it comes to area rug your dog, cat or vacuum do not know how much you spent on it, or that it is a treasured item. The pets see it as a comfortable bed, a nice scratch mat,a new chew toy, a great new toilet or a pretty place mat for treat eating. Your vacuum sees it as work and as lunch. What can be done when rug rug starts to fray or gets a chunk chewed out? Throwing it out is your last option believe it or not.
This Dhurrie/flat weave area rug has had better days, that is for sure. I believe that it did become a chew toy, it came in just before I got to work that day. The easiest thing would have been to toss it, but what if it goes with your decor. Finding a similar rug with the same colours or even design isn't easy. The owner of this Dhurrie rug owns several others as well. The solution was to trim it back four inches to the first navy border and bind the edges. When we bind a flat weave rug it becomes a single sided rug whereas before it would have been a two sided rug. The rug can still be used on both sides, but when we bind an area rug we put a strip of glue on to stabilize the rug so that shows a bit.
Since the Dhurrie area rug's pattern wasn't completely symmetrical to begin with, so having the ends look different is fine. The area rug started out as 75"x102" and now it is 75"x94". You would never know by looking at the rug that is was a bit bigger.
Before you toss your area rug because of a tear, or a missing corner, worn out fringes, bring it to Luv-A-Rug for a free repair assessment, 250-475-3922.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary

How to tell if your Rug and/or Fringes are "Tea Stained"

2009-07-10T17:12:00.001-07:00

I remember in school I had to tea dye a piece of cotton cloth. I boiled the water, steeped the tea, swished the cotton around for awhile, and Voila! I had a newly yellowed piece of cotton. It is fun to do when you are a kid, but when it comes to area rugs it can be a surprise to see your rug change colour in the opposite way, from golden to cream.

In September of 2008, I wrote about a lady that brought in her wool tufted area rug and one half was white and the other was a golden colour after she spot cleaned it. That is not the best way to find out that your rug had been 'tea stained'(as it is called in the rug business). I will remind rug buyers again to take a closer look at the rug you want to buy.

Look at the whole rug fibers, give them a tug or a scratch, and smell the rug. By doing those three things you can avoid a rug that may give off a bad odour due to the adhesives holding it together, a rug that sheds it's fibers excessively, or have it change colour when you clean up a spot.

Another thing to look for is if the fringes are tea stained. The fringes of this flat weave area rug are dyed after the rug is made because it is less cotton to dye and cheaper to do.

The cotton fibers run the length of the rug so dying all the cotton wouldn't be very cost effective, especially since 95% of it is hidden. This rug wouldn't have looked as nice with white fringes, so it makes sense to make them golden.

However when you own a rug where the fringes were 'tea stained' you may not know it until it gets cleaned or wet and the fringes become white again, so the question is: How do you tell if the fringes are 'tea stained'?

As you can see in the picture the ends of the fringes show that they were dyed golden. We have to let our clients know that more may come off during the cleaning process.

We do our best to not remove any of the tea stain, but depending on how well it was dyed we cannot guarantee the fringes will still be golden.

Fortunately with this area rug there wasn't a noticeable difference after we cleaned the rug.

Now to answer the question of how to tell if the fringes are dyed. Try to push the fibers on the end of the rug back a bit and see if you can see more of the cotton fibers and see if they are different colours. You can also ask the rug dealer. The downside to this dying technique is that the manufacturer doesn't have to say if the fringes or the rug were 'tea stained', which makes it a bit harder to find out.

Giving the rug you want to purchase a thorough inspection will help curb possible surprises later.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary

New fringes give Rug a face lift

2009-07-08T17:11:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered why area rugs have fringes? When rugs are hand knotted the fringes are the fibers, cotton, wool, or jute, in which the area rug is woven around, the weft fibers. They are necessary on a hand knotted rug to keep it together. On a machine made area rug fringes are there for decoration. They are sewn onto the rug after it has been made. Machine made rugs came into existence to be a cheaper version of the hand knotted rugs. They copied the designs and colours of the more expensive rugs, so fringes were added to give the machine rug a more authentic look.
I am not a big fan of fringes, especially on machine made rugs. The fringes are not necessary to the construction of the rug and they wear out and get stained very easily. Many of Luv-A-Rug's clients like the fringes on their area rugs, machine or hand knotted possibly because we are programmed with that is how a rug is supposed to look. Fair enough. We let our clients know that if they ever want to replace or remove the fringes the option is there.
A lovely lady brought in her two beloved rugs for cleaning, one oval and one rectangle and on the rectangle rug she wanted new fringes put on. She had us replace the fringes on the oval rug two years ago.
This is a tufted rug bought many years ago because it was a limited edition pattern. She had the fringes replaced once before, but she never liked that they were white fringes on her golden rug. The fringes were showing sign of use and were starting to pull away from the rug. Upon closer inspection of the rug, I found out why the fringes were coming off. Whoever replaced the fringes cut back the old ones and glued the new ones on. Not the best way to replace fringes.
When Luv-a-Rug replaces fringes we cut off the old ones and bind the ends and then sew the new fringes into the binding.
We replaced the white twisted fringes with a single knot golden fringe which looks a lot better. She was very happy at how her rug looked with the new fringes. It isn't very often that we would add fringes to a tufted rug, but we can if that is what is desired. This job is a great example that any rug can be a treasured item and therefore is worth the extra money to make it look its best. Removing or replacing old worn fringes brings new life to your rug and your love for it. Area rugs are more than just dirt collectors. They enhance the beauty of your home and with a little face lift will continue to do so for many more years.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary

Don't cry over a Flooded Area Rug

2009-07-02T17:25:00.001-07:00

You come home to find out that you now have a waterfall or a wading pool in your living room. It could be because of burst pipes, water heater exploded, excessive rain, whatever the reason panic instantly takes over. You pull out every towel you own, even the good ones, and try to stop any further damage. After you call a Restoration company, such as Sani-Tech (on Vancouver Island), and get the water removed you take a look at your belongings and you see your beautiful area rug has had the colours run. At that moment all may seem lost, but with a few steps it can be fixed. Bring your wet rug, yes it is best if it is still wet, to Luv-A-Rug for our flood cleaning process. Our flood process stops the colour from bleeding further, mold and mildew from growing and any odours from occurring.
You also need to talk to your insurance company if you haven't already. You need to find out what they are willing to pay in way of rug restoration. The sooner we can start our cleaning and restoration the better the results will be. The owner of this rug loves it very much and wanted it to be usable.
This rug is a Persian, wool with silk accents, and the red bled throughout the rug. We cleaned it then gave it to our hand repair guy to do his magic on. The results were beyond what I expected. Our repair guy had success removing about 95% of the red colour bleed. In some of the more intricate pattered areas it was hard to remove all the dye from the silk accents, but this can only be seen up close-closer than most people would get to your rug.
Remember that no matter how bad it may seem, most rugs can be restored. Here is an article about Stephen Roberts, the owner of Luv-A-Rug, after the flood of New Orleans and how flooded rugs can be saved. Unfortunately you have to scroll down to the fifth article to read about how Steve saved flooded area rugs after Hurricane Katrina.
Depending on the type of area rug you own, not all is lost if it gets flooded. Getting it taken care of right away can prevent you from having to replace the rug.
Thanks for reading, RugloverMary.

How to buy a "Green" area rug

2009-06-30T17:15:00.001-07:00

How to buy a 'green' area rug:

Step 1: Make the decision to buy a green rug
Step 2: Make your way to a store that sells area rugs
Step 3: Find a Green rug
Step 4: Buy rug
Step 5: Take rug home

Okay seriously though. The above steps are great if you are looking for a green coloured rug, but what about the other kind of Green? You know the other green. The 'IT' word of the decade, Green / Environmentally Friendly. The awareness of the effect we are having on our planet is at an all time saturation and yet there are thousands of products that are made to be disposable, convenient, and not bio-degradable!
The newest trends in area rugs are Designer/Hand tufted, Shags, Felt, and Viscose area rugs. They are beautiful looking and come in modern patterns and textures.

This is a felt tip rug. It has 1/2 inch thick fibers that are two inches high. The pros of this rug- it is fun, funky, and unique. The cons are- stains easily, hard to vacuum, and once they get dirty they always look dirty. The tips of the fibers blossom out making it hard to clean. These types are rugs are best used in an area that doesn't get used a lot. They will add a nice focal point to a room.

This is a hand tufted or designer area rug. They are readily available pretty much in every store that sells rugs. It is very easy to tell a hand tufted rug, the backing on the rug is fabric. A tufted rug has a hidden secret: glue holds these rugs together. There is the top fibers a layer of glue and the back. The pros of these rugs- modern designs and colours, a great and easy way to add colour to any room. The cons- hard to get out odours, sheds (wool) fibers easily, may have an existing odour issue, temporary rug (not a long life span), not for high use areas.

This is a viscose area rug. Viscose looks and feels a lot like silk. They are the rugs that Belgium is exporting a lot of right now. These rugs look great when new, they are shiny, soft and inviting to walk on. That is the pros of viscose rugs. The cons- stains very easily, fades easily, they show wear areas quickly, do not stand up well to pet accidents.

All three of the above rugs are beautiful and unique, but it is important to remember that once these rugs become too stained to use anymore they are not easily biodegradable and replacing them can get expensive.
Two important tips for choosing a hand tufted rug: Smell the bottom of the fibers and the back of the rug, any odour you may smell is permanent, and second vigorously rug your hand across the rug and pull at the fibers, if you see a lot of fibers shedding that too is permanent.
My wish is that if we stop buying products that aren't good for the environment, eventually they will stop making them. Have a green day.
Thanks for reading, RugloverMary.

Qashqai, Gashgay, Kashkay, Qasqa'i?? Rugs

2009-06-26T17:11:00.000-07:00

Qashqai area rugs: There are many different spellings for this type of hand knotted wool rug. I found out a little bit about these unique rugs. They have been making Qashqai rugs since before the 16th century or 13th or 19th depending on what website you believe. I love finding conflicting information about a subject. Everyone seems right until you read another website, then no one seems right.

These rugs are very well made by what was a nomadic tribe of Iran. After many wars and many years the nomadic tribe has settled mostly in the vicinity of Shiraz. The Qashqai tribe is possibly one of the largest and most prosperous tribes of Iran. The rugs they weave are geometric in design and the weavers use bright vibrant colours.

Instead of me regurgitating what others have already written about Qashqai area rugs, I will send you to one of Barry O'Connell's sites. His pages will give you more information then you will know what to do with.
The rug in the picture came to us a couple of weeks ago. It has had a colourful life I am sure. There a couple of previous repairs.

Whomever did the repair did a pretty good job at finding a matching donor rug. It can never be prefect when using another rug to repair a hole. It blends enough that you don't notice it right away. On the back it is much more noticeable, but that is the back.

When we do our visual inspections with the clients I also let them know that sometime the stains or spots may remain on the back of their rugs. About ninety five percent say that it is the back of the rug and they never look there.

When doing rug repairs that involves using another rug it has to be understood that it will be noticeable. The other option for fixing a hole is to hand weave it. Expensive, yes, but it keeps the look of the rug uniform.

It all comes down to sentimental value and how much you want to invest in the rug. Never let your first thought be that the rug is not worth it, that it is too far gone to get fixed.

We have done some great repairs over the years here at Luv-a-rug cleaners in Victoria BC. Let us give you our professional opinion before it becomes part of our landfills. Luv-A-Rug 250-590-6210/1-800-886-2802, #2-4144 Wilkinson Rd.
Thanks for reading, RugloverMary, your local Victoria BC, Sooke to Sidney rug cleaning expert!

Tea and Carpets Rug Blog

2009-06-23T13:00:00.000-07:00

I have made it known that I have a pretty healthy passion for area rugs and the history of how they became what they are. I subscribe to a blog called Tea and Carpets This is a blog written by an American journalist, Charles Reckmagel, who lives in Prague and caught the area rug bug.
He recently posted a blog about the history of when Persian area rugs started to change from a geometric design to the floral motif design. I found this very interesting. I thought that Persian rugs always had that look to them. It never occurred tome that they would have changed the pattern used in their rugs. I know how naive of me to think that, but when you don't have all the knowledge you make use of the little bit you have.
It is also thanks to Charles that I stumbled across and fascinating movie called Grass: A Nation's Battle for Life released in 1925. It is about the nomadic Bakhtiari tribe's journey to summer's pastures. I have not watched it yet, but it sounds amazing. Three Americans following a way of life that pretty much doesn't exist anymore.
I love reading other people's blogs about area rugs. It gives me better information for our clients and since I love learning about history sites like Tea and Carpets is perfect for me. Thanks Charles for sharing your knowledge with the world.
Thanks for reading, RugloverMary

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Rug luvable again

2009-06-16T17:19:00.000-07:00

When it comes to old, worn out, or stained fringes you have a couple of options for remedying them. Depending on the factors of the type of rug, where you use the rug, and budget we have fix that will suit you and your area rug.
First off we can replace the fringes with a machine sewn fringe. The old fringes are cut off and a synthetic ribbon is sewn on to the edge of the rug. The new fringes are then sewn on to the top of the rug. Luv-A-Rug cleaners in Victoria has different fringes to choose from in three different colours, white, golden, grey. We like to choose a colour of fringe that best compliments the area rug. We can also hand weave new fringes as mentioned in a previous blog.

When you are tired of the vacuum having lunch with the fringes, or if the fringes get too dingy we can remove them completely. A serged or overcast stitched edge adds a nice clean look to your rug. We use synthetic fiber for serging as it lasts longer than say cotton or wool and is less expensive and more readily available. We match the best colour to your rug so that it blends with the rug. Serging is a great option for most area rugs.
For flat woven rugs or thin rugs we recommend binding. Binding is a 1/4 inch synthetic ribbon that is sewn on the edge of your rug. Binding is also best for left over carpet pieces. Old dingy worn fringes can make you rug look old and not very lovable. Let Luv-A-Rug cleaners add the love back into your rug with new fringes or a nice clean edge. 250-475-3922 www.luvarug.com
Thanks for reading, RugloverMary, your local Victoria BC rug cleaner and serging expert!

Rugs that speak softly

2009-06-11T16:47:00.000-07:00

This rug came in on Wed June 10. It is from the same lady that brought us three very precious rugs two weeks ago. This rug has a story that it is reluctant to share. Why is it asymmetrical? Did the previous owner use it as a wall hanging? Was it originally made to be used as a wall hanging, a cushion or something else?
I posted the pictures on the Rug Hub to get some input from the experts. This is what I found out...this is not a rug, but a late 19th century saddlebag. That is why it is asymmetrical and had an turned over edge.

What I am about to write will shock many rug lovers and experts. The client wanted to make it symmetrical and well.......we did. She wanted to be able to use it as a rug. When I found out it was a 19th century saddlebag it was already in our binding guys hands.
The client picked up her newly cleaned and repaired saddlebag and she was very happy with the way it looks. She was appreciative of the history
I could find out about it and now it is even more special to her.
I can almost hear the gasps of rug experts across the land. Even with the knowledge of it being a very aged saddlebag she didn't regret her decision to trim it even and bind three side of the rug. I could say more about this, but it all sounds preachy in my head. This is where I will leave it.
Thanks for reading, RugloverMary

Rug Education not A Cleaners Excuse

2009-06-11T11:41:00.000-07:00

The great thing about being part of the area rug cleaning world wide community is that we support one another, give advice when asked and link each other to other great rug people. My boss, Dusty Roberts sent me an e-mail to check out another rug blog by Lisa Wagner titled The Rug Chick Blog. Lisa is very respected in the rug world. Here is a little bio on Lisa.

I really enjoyed her blog about white knots or as she calls them rug freckles. They are in every hand knotted area rug and may not be noticed until the rug is cleaned. Dirt hides a lot of secrets sometimes. The only secret I have come to know on hiding white knots is to colour them with a marker. It isn't permanent or sometime practical, but for those few people that are bothered by them it is a temporary solution.

In my two years at Luv-A-Rug I haven't found too many people who cared much about the white knots showing. On this particular British Indian/Aubusson rug there is a pretty big knot that has worn through. The cotton cord used to weave the rug is thick. Thicker than what is used on other types of hand knotted rugs due to the weigh of this 8x10 British Indian rug. This is the largest white knot I have seen. I tried to figure out how it happened, but since I don't everything about rug weaving as such, it is a bit of a mystery. It is interesting nevertheless.

When I do my visual inspection here at my rug cleaning studio in Victoria BC, I point out the white knots and explain that they will be more visible after cleaning because to quote Lisa,"When you point things out BEFORE cleaning is it EDUCATION … when you point it out AFTER the cleaning it is an EXCUSE!"
Thanks for reading, RugloverMary, Your Victoria BC, Canada rug cleaner!

Moth season=bad day for wool rugs

2009-05-26T17:26:00.001-07:00

Moths are having a grand time on people's rugs this year. We have a few rugs in lately that got moth damage in the last few months. This is my third blog about Moth's. I will remind every rug owner to vacuum the entire rug. The part of the rug that is under furniture is prime real estate for moth larvae to feed on. A yearly professional cleaning and a monthly vacuum is the best defense against wool's number one enemy.
Plus check underneath the rug at least six inches. This picture shows moth damage on the back of the rug. The moth larvae can feed there undetected until one day you vacuum the rug and a bunch of the fibers are sucked up. The damage on this rug was caught in time that no repairs had to be done and there was no visible damage to the top of the rug. This shows how slight the damage can be and also how sneaky the moths can be. They do not care where their food source is, just that they have one so they can survive. Another reason the spring and autumn cleaning are so important. Out of sight does not equal peace of mind. Yes it is a pain and a hassle, but it can save your furniture and precious area rugs.

When this rug came in to the shop I was sad and excited. Sad because this rug could not be saved the damage was too severe. The rug was rolled up in a basement for awhile unprotected and the moth's had a new home. I was excited because this rug didn't just have moth larvae casings it has live larvae. Some were newly hatched because they were still clear and the older ones were the colour of the wool they had been eating. By the time I took pictures the larvae had disappeared into the fibers, they are shy and don't like their pictures taken.:) All the blue sand like particles is the larva's excrement and the flat rice looking pieces are the empty moth larvae casings (where they hatched from). This is only a few inches of the rug, the moth larva were all over it in different clumps of sections. Sometimes if the damage is only in one area we can repair it by trimming it off, yes some of the rug is lost but it would of still been usable. This is done after we do our moth treatment and do a thorough cleaning. Click to read more about moths and their life cycle and how to prevent them and what to do if you find that you have an infestation.
Thanks for reading, RugloverMary

A well loved wool rug, deep down

2009-05-19T17:24:00.001-07:00

The best way, as we know, to show what not to do is by using visual examples. On May 15th I got a prime example of what not to do to your wool flat weave area rug. The owner of this rug gave me full permission to write about his rug and what he did to it. He didn't even care if I used his name. He knew that he messed up and nothing I said or wrote would change that.
His area rug was dirty and like most of us, to save money, he decided to do it himself. That is not good thing when your rug is wool and the colours are not stable/colourfast. He popped his 2.5 by 3.5 foot area rug in the washing machine, because it fit, and when it was done the colours had run. He was also very lucky that it didn't shrink a lot only a little bit.
Unfortunately my before picture is in read only format so I cannot save it only view it. The important thing to note is that this little rug is very loved by it's owner and it is not because of any grand story. No, it is because of a weaving oops. It is because of the little nose looking appendage and the fact that his rug asymmetrical. It doesn't matter why someone loves their area rug, the important thing is that the rug is appreciated. Now that I look at the rug a little closer maybe that isn't an oops. Maybe the center piece of the rug is a bird type figure? If you have a better insight please share.
When the rug took a spin in the washing machine the ends started to unravel, hence why it came into Luv-A-Rug for repair. To re-weave the ends would have outweighed the rugs value, so instead we sewed a binding ribbon on the ends of the rug. By doing this it stops the rug from fraying further, but it also makes this two sided rug a one sided rug. It was quite a sight with me and the owner trying to pick the best side as the "good" side. The colour bleeding looked pretty much the same on both sides, so that wasn't a factor in our decision. It came down to the fact that the texture was a bit softer looking on one side, so that became the "good" side.
When our client came in to pick up his well loved rug, I rolled it out in a slightly dramatic fashion. I asked him if he was ready to see his new rug and then unfurled it out on the floor. He was over joyed at how it looked with the binding. He was very sweet and said that he wished he had more rugs for us to do because he was so impressed with our service. That is what we, at Luv-A-Rug, are about: We want you to fall back in love with your area rugs, so when the love starts to fade bring it to Luv-A-Rug. A good through cleaning or repair can make a big difference.
Thanks for reading, RugloverMary

A Carpet of Flowers, Garden Show and A Tourist, no it is not a Joke

2009-05-16T12:52:00.000-07:00

Wow! I love it when you find something so cool that you must pass it along. This was the case with one of my friends. She found this website and forwarded it onto me and now I am passing it along to you.
Have you ever heard of the floral carpets that they make once every two years in Brussels. I hadn't until today. Now I want to go to Brussels. It is amazing that after many months of planning and a few days to put it together that you can only enjoy it for a short time and then it is gone. The one that they did in 2006 is awesome! I cannot say anything more about without giving the the secret away.
I was successful in my Google search using the term floral carpets. I discovered lots of neat treasures like the Ellerslie International Flower Show in Christchurch, New Zealand. This video highlights some of the award winners and their amazing garden designs. The designs are very inviting and relaxing. Many of them I would love to have in my yard, not practical, but we can dream. This is the best video of the flower show I found, it shows the displays in great detail, enjoy.
It is great to see a few ways that the beauty of nature is used and enjoyed.
I forget that some people travel to our great city of Victoria, BC to enjoy the gardens here. We are, after all, called the Garden City. To see what all the fuss is about this is Butchart Gardens. It has been a garden for 104years and family owned since it's beginning. I am embarrassed to say that in my twelve years of living here in Victoria, BC I have never been to Butchart Gardens. I know it is almost a crime, but it is viewed as a tourist thing not a local thing by most living here on the island.
I am sure that most of you reading this have sites in your town that you have never been to as well due to the tourist tag attached to them. Once in awhile it is good to play tourist in your own town. Every year in March the locals of Victoria can be a tourist in their home town. It is great! You can stay in a hotel for a very low price, get into places for free or at a discount like the Royal BC Museum and restaurants will have great meal specials. It is very popular and helps when you are asked by tourists what fun stuff is there to do in Victoria. Again I have never done this, but know people who have and they love it.
This blog went from a huge carpet of flowers to tourism and it all works together. I hope that you get inspired to enjoy a bit of nature this summer. I know I will, the beach in my hometown is calling me back home. I am so looking forward to it.
Thanks for reading RugloverMary

French Wool Tapestry

2009-05-09T13:13:00.000-07:00

It is always nice when we get something very special to clean. This wool tapestry is a perfect example of this. The lady wasn't sure of the year this event happened, but this was a gift given to her brother many years ago. He lived in Vancouver, BC, Canada and he meet a couple from France who were there on vacation.

Her brother was bi-lingual so he volunteered to be their tour guide. The couple had a very good time and when they got back home they sent this beautiful tapestry to him as a thank you. The lady inherited it from her brother. It is very special to the family.
What a nice gesture and gift. I do not know if he kept in touch with the couple or not. I would want to think so if only to exchange Christmas cards.I find it very simplistic in design, but not plain. It definitely tells a story.

The back shows the way a tapestry is woven. The red spots are actually yellow on the front. The threads stay on the back until needed on the front design. This also shows that improper knowledge about how rugs and tapestries are woven could lead to a bad cleaning. If you just wet this tapestry the red or blue could bleed through to the front and then you be fried. A priceless family treasure ruined and can not be replaced. Please make sure that you know how to clean items properly and if you don't find someone who does. Just a bit of advice!!
Thanks for reading, RugloverMary

Area Rugs=Art

2009-05-07T17:08:00.000-07:00

Here in our rug cleaning studio in Victoria BC we see all shapes, sizes, colours and textures of rugs and sometimes we are left scratching our heads as to how anyone could possible find some of these rugs attractive at all.

It is no secret that we don't all like the same things. That is very apparent when it comes to decorating and area rugs. This area rug is an art piece that adds more then a floor covering to it's owners life. The design is either by a famous artist or based on a famous artist's work. The company who sells these rugs in located in Brussels. They specialize in Contemporary furnishings and lightening. This is my kind of decorating, sleek and modern with a quirky twist. Very unique and inviting.
This rug is very cherished by it's owner. This is a great example that not every rug has to be old to be a work of art. This is a hand tufted rug and is 6.5'x8'. The bold colours help lift your mood in the dreary winter months, as it should. Sometimes an area rug should be more than just something to cover the floor.
Thanks for reading, RugloverMary, your local Victoria BC rug cleaner, and sometimes challenged rug lover.

Sentimental Axminster Area Rug

2009-04-30T11:06:00.000-07:00

Axminster area rugs and carpet started being made around 1775 by Thomas Whitty in Axminster, Devon, England. The Axminster rugs were made to look like the more expensive hand knotted rugs of the time. Thomas Whitty succeeded very well with duplicating the intricacy of hand knotted area rugs. They are machine woven by a power loom with a wool fiber on a cotton and jute foundation. The unique thing about the Axminster weaving process is that up to 16 colours can be used. No other machine loom can use that many colours per pattern/design.
Axminster carpet is considered top of the line. It can be found in many homes of Royalty, fine hotels and casinos, theaters and cruise ships. It may look tacky when we see it in a theater or on a cruise ship, but it is very durable and is expensive. Okay I just went through ten different websites that claimed to sell Axminster carpet and area rugs and only found one that had any pricing. It was in British pounds and most of the carpet was between 20 and 40 pounds a foot. I believe to get Canadian dollars we pretty much double that number and for US dollars add a few more dollars onto the Canadian amount. With the durability of the Axminster carpet it is worth it because you wouldn't have to replace it every 5-10 years.
In my two years here at Luv-A-Rug cleaners in Victoria BC, I have seen many Axminster area rugs come for cleaning and repair and most of them have been the same kind of pattern and colours. That was until yesterday and today.

Yesterday I had a lady call and tell me that her husband was bringing in a rug for us to clean. When he gets here to drop off the rug he tell me that he doesn't really like the rug, at all! It was his wife's mothers rug and she wanted it cleaned so she could use it. He really didn't see any value in the rug so when I was about to tell him the cleaning cost I said, " Your Sentimental value of the rug is now....." He laughed and said that he had to ask this wife if she was okay with the cleaning cost. Of course she was okay with it because of her sentimental value in the area rug. Not much will out do sentimental value. I am not sure if the cost of this rug was $179.00, but if it was that was a pretty great price for a 9'x12' wool Axminster area rug. My favorite part of the rug, besides that fact that the husband is so against it, is the teal accents.
This was another thing that I liked about this rug. The tag says that this rug is for light to medium domestic use. I wish that area rugs made today had that kind of label then maybe there would be a lot less area rugs being thrown away due to the fact that they are too stained to use. Certain rugs shouldn't be used in the kitchen or in high use areas, Axminsters are not in that category.
Thanks for reading, RugloverMary, your local Victoria BC, Canada, Axminster area rug lover!

PS, a side note, my boss Dusty Roberts had a private tour of this rugs manufactures factory (Brintons) in Kiddaminster England just last year!

British, Chinese, Moroccan Area Rugs, Oh my!

2009-04-17T11:13:00.000-07:00

To the untrained eye it can be difficult to distinguish between a Chinese, British India/Indian Aubusson, and Moroccan rug. It just so happened that we had one of each in our rug cleaning shop at the same time, so I am taking this opportunity to rugucate our clients. I need to make it clear that the information contained in this blog is from my own experience and research. If you have any more information to add please do so or direct me to better websites.

When trying to tell one type of rug from another you never go by the colours or pattern. The best way is to look at the back and see how it is put together. This is the back of a Chinese hand knotted wool area rug. Chinese rugs are pretty close to being perfect. The rows of knots are very straight and the knots are the same size. Chinese measure their rugs by knots per square foot instead of the traditional knots per square inch. The most common types are 70 line and 90 line. This is a 90 line Chinese.

This is the back of a British India/Indian Aubusson area rug. From my research I have found that Aubusson refers to the distinct pattern that is usually found on these rugs. Compared to the Chinese the knots used on a British India rug are not as tight and are a bit bigger. Rumour has it that these rugs were based around the Chinese weaving. When the British 'discovered' China they were so impressed with the Chinese weaving techniques that they tried to copy them. That is why the British India and Chinese rugs can look very similar if you were to go by colour and design only.

Lastly here is the back of a Moroccan area rug. As you can see the knots are similar to the British India, that the are knobby. These rugs have a more rustic look to them and are warm and inviting to use. The colours that we see most often are the natural cream and browns, but Moroccan rugs usually are very bright vibrant.

The fringes on Moroccans can be very unique as well. They sometime are very wide and braided as this picture shows. It is hard to tell, but these braids are about a half inch wide.
No matter which area rug you own it is unique. Be it the story of how you obtained it or in the deep history of how it was woven. Remember that rug is a story.

Thanks for reading, RugloverMary

Area Rug Repairs=Less Waste and More Love

2009-03-31T15:05:00.000-07:00

In the last month we have done a lot of area rug repairs. Mostly machine edging, binding and surging,see photo of surged edge, but we also did another wonderful hand repair. With all the area rugs being bought these days it is nice to see that some area rugs are still loved. I feel that area rugs have lost their meaning. Area rugs used to be something that was woven with love and a story, now they are mostly slapped together with glue and dollar signs. I am waiting for the day when hand knotted area rugs are the main type of area rug bought.
It is always nice when someone invests in the value of their area rug. The number one reason people invest in hand repairs is sentimental. Plus with a simple repair done to your area rug it won't be thrown out. Not all area rugs breakdown so the longer you can use your area rug the better for the environment and your wallet.
This 2x3.5 foot Turkish area rug came to Luv-A-Rug a couple of weeks ago. The ends were fraying and the client wanted to keep the look of the rug. A machine repair wouldn't have done justice to this area rug, but the more authentic, almost invisible, overcast stitch our hand repair guy does, it looks like new again. The client will be very pleased with the end results. It can be hard to picture what your area rug will look like after a repair, but we at Luv-A-Rug try to explain it so you can.

Now that you know Luv-A-Rug does hand repairs it is time to pull out grandma's beloved area rug and bring it to us to see how we can love it back to use. Area rugs are pieces of art and with some care and a cleaning it can adorn your home once again.
Thanks for reading, RugloverMary

Area Rug Passion=More Clients

2009-03-25T14:59:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I still felt like I was in a tornado. I was still reeling in the excitement of winning the Juno weekend trip and I started to realize all the things I needed to do this week at work and at home. I got to work around 11:40 due to a morning appointment and that made the day go by fast. It was also very steady day of clients picking up their clean area rugs and dropping off dirty ones, plus the phone calls were constant as well. It was a nice normal day.
It seems lately that Luv-A-Rug has been getting what we call tester rugs for cleaning. They usually are a synthetic rug that is used in front of the kitchen sink or an entryway rug. New clients are seeing how we clean their inexpensive rugs and test our knowledge on area rugs to make sure we know what we are doing. After we clean their first rug they bring us their more expensive area rugs for cleaning and sometimes repair. Yes Luv-A-Rug does rug repairs.
Yesterday I spent at least 30 minutes or more with a wonderful lady, I will call her Lady A. She brought in her synthetic 2x3 area for cleaning. She asked me if I knew much about area rugs, I responded that I did indeed. She wanted me to show her some different kinds of area rugs and what made them different or better than other rugs. I showed her some Persians, Belgium's and machine made area rugs. We were discussing rug repairs when another client, Lady B, came in to the shop to pick up her area rug that we had cleaned and did a binding edge on all four sides. We all got chatting about area rug repairs and Lady B told the Lady A that we, Luv-A-Rug, was the place to bring your rugs to for cleaning and especially for repair. Back in February Lady B brought in a Persian for cleaning and we also did a hand repair to the ends of the rug. She was very happy with the repair which included evening up the ends and doing an overcast stitch to stop the rug from fraying any more.
Lady A also wanted to cover a foot stool kind of thing, a hashick?, in an area rug instead of using fabric. I showed her the chair that we have covered in a flat woven rug. It is wrapped around the chair and stapled. Voila! a new chair. She instantly thought of a red flat woven area rug that her father gave to her son and that got her thinking. The rug has a horse in the middle of it and she said that it would work perfect for what she had in mind. The hard part was trying to figure out who does that sort of thing. We have sent area rugs to our hand repair guy to be made into pillows, but never a piece of furniture. She was going to try a few upholstery places to see what they had to say.

Lady A was very thankful for all my knowledge and help. With her 2x3 synthetic area rug we are not only cleaning it we are also putting our protective finish on it to help repel dirt and stains and we are removing the fringes and putting a binding edge on. She is going to bring us some of her other rugs for cleaning and we will discuss repairs as needed. She wishes I could go with her when she goes rug shopping so she doesn't buy an area rug that isn't going to last or isn't such a great deal. I gave her a lot of information to arm her against such things. My only wish is that rug manufactures would stop making area rugs that do not last, are not made to be walked on, and that cannot be cleaned.
Thanks for reading, RugloverMary

2009-03-25T13:46:00.000-07:00

Luv-A-Rug is now linked in, are you? This site will allow us to connect with other's in our industry and share ideas and tips on area rug cleaning.
Thanks to John Braun and his amazing Hitman Advertising, Luv-A-Rug is expanding our presence on the Internet. John has a wealth of knowledge on marketing. He is an expert in the field and highly respected. If you want to get ahead in your industry and leave your competition in the dust see what John has to offer.
With www.linkedin.com you can join others who share your interests, career or education. In no time at all you can be linked to experts and enthusiasts and become one yourself.
I love finding people who share me passion for area rugs. Yes, I am very passionate about area rugs. Area rugs are more than something that lays on the floor and collects dust and dirt. It has been said and read many times before, but I will repeat it again, there is a story behind area rug.
Thanks for reading, Polished area rug cleaner

Pakistan area rug

2009-03-19T17:58:00.000-07:00

We had a Pakistan wool area rug brought to Luv-A-Rug in need of some love. The fringes were worn off and the sides were fraying. At some point latex glue was applied to the edges of the rug to prevent more fraying. As you can see from this photo of the back that it didn't completely stop it from fraying more. After we cleaned the rug we did a surged edge on all four sides.

The Pakistan rug had to be trimmed back several inches to even it up, but unless you know it was done it is hard to tell. Many people do not know that we can make their area rugs lovable again just by doing a repair. Sometimes just removing the fringes and doing a surged or binding edge can renew the life of your area rug and your love for it.

We can also do hand repairs as well as machine repairs. The hand repairs are authentic and blend into the rug. For valuable rugs hand repairs are the way to go, they help the area rug keep it's value, sentimental or monetary
To find out if your rug has more life left in it please bring it to Luv-A-Rug for a free assessment. We will explain all of your repair options and give you our recommendations as to what would work best.
Thanks for reading, The Polished Area Rug Cleaner

Proper Storage of Area Rugs

2009-03-11T15:31:00.000-07:00

One of the saddest parts of working at Luv-A-Rug is seeing an area rug that has moth larvae damage. I say moth larvae instead of just moth because it is not the moth that does the damage.

The most important thing to do when storing an area rug is to get it Professionally Cleaned before storing:

A clean area rug lacks the nutrients most insects need to survive.

Wrap it in a waterproof,breathable sheet, such a Tyvek.

Tyvek is a registered trademark of DuPont. Tyvek is made with 100% high-density polyethylene fibers. The fibers are continuous and as thick as a human hair. When making Tyvek the fibers are continuous and non directional and then is flash spun using no binding agents or fillers. Tyvek is hard to tear, but can easily be cut with scissors or any sharp object.

The benefits of using Tyvek to store your area rugs in are: it is lightweight, has a neutral pH factor, and allows water vapour to pass through, but not liquid water.
Tyvek can be purchased from any hardware/home building store, but Luv-A-Rug can wrap your area rug in Tyvek after cleaning.

The area in which you store your area rug is important too. Store your area rugs in a place that is not too hot or too cold or prone to extreme temperature fluctuations and has low humidity. Your area rug should be laid flat. Do not stand it up on its end, that is not good for the rug. Do not store your area rug against an outside wall, the wall gets too cold, nor on a concrete floor, again too cold.

There is no ideal spot to store your area rug just ideal conditions. Remember that out of sight does not equal peace of mind. Periodically check your stored area rug to make sure that the wrapping hasn't been punctured by something. For long term storage moth balls (moth balls do come in a fresh scent of cedar, so no more musty smell) are recommended to be included with your area rug. Every precaution should be taken to make sure that your area rugs are safe, dry and ready to be enjoyed for years to come.

I am going to get a lot of flack from the area rug cleaning world when I post this, but I have proof. I have proof that ALL area rugs are susceptible to moth damage no matter the fibers. It is widely known that moths need natural fibers to survive, but if the rug is dirty enough it doesn't matter. This is the second synthetic, yes Synthetic area rug I have seen in my two years here at Luv-A-Rug with moth damage. The pink arrows are pointing to the eaten areas.

This is a picture of the back to prove that it is a machine made synthetic area rug. I have no way of knowing if the larvae survived long enough to turn into moths or if they died from eating a synthetic fiber. There were no larvae casings when I saw the rug, but if the rug was vacuumed before it was brought in the casings would have been sucked up. All area rugs should be professionally cleaned before storing.
When unwrapping your stored area rug that contained moth balls please do so in a well ventilated area and let the rug air out for a day or two. There may not be that old familiar musty smell but the gas the moth balls give off is still present.
If you have any other storage questions please do not hesitate to contact Luv-A-Rug(e-mail: luvvie@shaw.ca or phone 250-475-3922 or 1-800-886-2802 or drop by our shop at 2-4144 Wilkinson Rd. Victoria, BC website: www.luvarug.com) and we will be more than happy to assist you.
Since I cannot think of a better sign off line I will still say Thanks for reading! The Polished Area Rug Cleaner

A More Refined RugloverMary

2009-03-06T11:54:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my new area rug blog. I still have RugloverMary and will continue writing it as always. The reason I am starting a second rug blog is to write a more technical blog concentrating on area rug cleaning and repair. I hope that you follow me on my new blog journey.